On one level, the Hollywood-like romance is tongue-in-cheek. But on the other level, it means serious business.

I am being a little tongue-in-cheek.

I am told that our chroniclers' practice of inventing speeches for great persons whose lives they write is unscholarly.

Even on the most serious ballads, I'll throw in a tongue-in-cheek remark.

Watch your mouth: The language we use creates the reality we experience.

If we can't keep this tongue-in-cheek, it can get mean-spirited, and we don't want that.