Where does “tongue-in-chic” come from?

tongue-in-chic (English) comes from English Chic, from French chic, from German Schick, from Middle High German schicken, from Middle High German geschehen, from Old High German giskehan, from Proto-West Germanic *skehan, from Proto-Germanic skehaną — to pass, happen.

tongue-in-chic (English): Misspelling of tongue-in-cheek; Using humor as a...

Definitions

  1. Misspelling of tongue-in-cheek; Using humor as a...

Ancestry of “tongue-in-chic”, step by step

tongue-in-chic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Chic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishChicElegant, stylish
2Frenchchicelegant; considerate; elegance
3GermanSchickchic
4Middle High Germanschickento outfit oneself, fit in, arrange appropriately
5Middle High Germangeschehento happen, rush
6Old High Germangiskehanto happen
7Proto-West Germanic*skehanto move quickly
8Proto-Germanicskehanąto jump; spring up; to emerge; come up; happen
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱek-to pass, happen

via English tongue-in-cheek

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishtongue-in-cheekNot intended seriously; jocular or humorous; With...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱek-Every word from Proto-Germanic skehanąEvery word from Proto-West Germanic *skehan