“Tongue-in-cheek” humor is subtle and not meant to be taken seriously. It originated in the 1800s and involves suppressing a smile or laughter. This type of humor is prized in British culture and can be misinterpreted. It can take the form of irony, parody, or self-deprecation.
When something is described as “taunting,” it means it shouldn’t be taken seriously. This type of humor is often tongue-in-cheek, subtle, and sometimes difficult to capture, in contrast to more blatant forms of humor. In England in particular, such witticisms, fiction and film have been elevated to an art form, as this type of wit is particularly prized in British culture.
This term appears to have originated in the 1800s and is a reference to the idea that one is pushing the tongue against the cheek to keep a straight facial expression or to avoid laughter that might betray the joke. Pressing the tongue against the side of the cheek can help suppress a smile and also make it difficult to speak. People usually don’t literally stick their tongue in their cheeks after saying such a joke, even though they will sometimes explicitly state “taunting.”
Mastering the art of telling a joke with a straight face takes time. The idea behind tongue-in-cheek humor is that the joker wants people to take the joke seriously for a moment, until someone realizes the ridiculousness and points it out. In a mixed group, the people who participate in the joke can help perpetuate it, and while subtle jokes aren’t told with the intent to deceive, they are sometimes misinterpreted, leading to confusion until the matter is resolved.
Ironic humor can be wry or facetious, or it can take the form of more overt parody and comedy. Some directors, for example, enjoy making films to poke fun at the genres they work in. Horror movies, teen movies, and action movies are often ideal for such spoofs, which can range from the obvious to the subtle. Authors may also produce columns, poems, or books that are meant to be facetious, although some authors have their feathers ruffled due to reader misunderstandings.
This type of humor is distinguished by its subtlety, rather than its flashiness. Some of the best hit people only minutes or hours after the joke, and some people become known for their wry sense of humor. Many people who engage in this type of humor also make fun of themselves in the process, with mildly self-deprecating humor sometimes designed to spread irritation among people who have trouble understanding less obvious humor.
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