Here are some examples of how you can use it:
Directly:
* "I said I wanted to eat my weight in ice cream, but I was only speaking tongue in cheek."
* "Don't take my criticism of the movie too seriously, I was just being tongue in cheek."
Indirectly:
* "I'm sure you'll all be thrilled to hear that we're having a meeting about office supplies... you know, just kidding!"
* "I wouldn't mind winning the lottery, but I guess I'll just have to keep working... just kidding, I'd love to win!"
In writing:
* You can use italics, bold, or quotation marks to emphasize that you are speaking tongue in cheek.
* You can also add a wink emoji or other playful language to indicate that you are not serious.
Remember, the key to using "tongue in cheek" effectively is to ensure that your audience understands you are being playful and not intending to offend or cause harm.