adjectives - What is the best way to convert "tongue-in-cheek" into an adverb?


I was thinking something like "tongue-in-cheekly" but it sounds awkward. Of course, alternatives are welcome, but I couldn't come up with one that conveyed the half-serious playfulness that I attribute to "tongue-in-cheek". Any thoughts?



Answer



(Edit: I reworked my answer, since Merriam-Webster was inconsistent between the free and unabridged versions.)


Per OxfordDictionaries.com, the adverb and adjective form of the phrase "tongue in cheek" is tongue-in-cheek (with hyphens):



[as adjective]: her delightful tongue-in-cheek humour


[as adverb]: I think he was talking tongue-in-cheek.



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