cheek
cheek
Pronunciation
cheek: /tʃiːk/
tʃ (ch as in "church")
iː (ee as in "see")
k (k as in "cat")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: cheek
Plural Noun: cheeks
Verb (base form): cheek
Verb (third-person singular present): cheeks
Verb (present participle): cheeking
Verb (past tense/past participle): cheeked
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: Either side of the face below the eye and above the jaw.
Synonyms: jowl (informal, often plural), malar bone (anatomical)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a body part)
Definition: Impudent or disrespectful behavior; impertinence.
Synonyms: sass, insolence, audacity, nerve, disrespect, sauciness
Antonyms: deference, respect, politeness, humility, courtesy
Verb
Definition: To speak to or behave towards someone in an impudent or disrespectful way; to be impertinent.
Synonyms: sass, back-talk, mouth off (informal), defy, challenge (in a disrespectful way)
Antonyms: obey, respect, defer, comply, yield
Definition: To press one's cheek against something, often affectionately.
Synonyms: nuzzle, brush, caress, rub
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific action)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He felt a blush creep up his neck to his cheeks, a warmth that had nothing to do with the fire." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, July 2000)
"The old woman, with a mischievous glint in her eye, patted his cheek playfully." (Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude, May 1967)
Newspapers:
"The mayor was accused of having the 'cheek' to propose such a drastic tax hike without public consultation." (The Guardian)
"A child, overcome with joy, kissed her father's cheek as he returned from deployment." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Running a marathon requires a lot of grit and sometimes, a bit of cheeky determination to push through the pain." (Runner's World online)
"The article explored the cultural implications of 'turning the other cheek' in various conflict resolution strategies." (Psychology Today online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the film The Princess Bride, Wesley famously quips, "As you wish," often with a slight, knowing smirk and a bit of a cheeky glint in his eye.
Television: A character in a sitcom might respond to a rude comment with a sarcastic, "Well, that was a bit of cheek!"
Music: A song lyric might describe a lover's tender touch: "Your hand upon my cheek, a whisper in the dark." (Example: "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, October 1961)
Social Media: A user might post a humorous photo with a caption like, "Feeling a bit cheeky today!"
General Public Discourse:
"You've got some cheek, asking for a raise after that performance!"
"The baby had such chubby cheeks, everyone wanted to pinch them."
"She had the cheek to tell me how to do my job, even though she'd only been there a week."
10 Quotes Using Cheek
"The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away on a silver platter to a lady that's going to get a kick out of seeing them going hungry. Don't turn the other cheek for that." (Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, July 1965)
"If you want to be a successful person, be prepared to turn the other cheek a lot." (Elton John, Me, October 2019)
"He slapped me, and I did not turn the other cheek. I hit him back, and then I realized that was not what I was supposed to do." (Coretta Scott King, My Life, My Love, My Legacy, January 2017)
"I was thinking that if I slop water on your head, you might actually feel the need to turn the other cheek." (Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, November 2020)
"I'm not one to turn the other cheek. I'm more likely to give you a black eye." (Marilyn Manson, The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, February 1998)
"He who turns the other cheek is a coward." (Mike Tyson, Iron Ambition: My Life with Cus D'Amato, May 2017)
"I wouldn't advise anyone to turn the other cheek to injustice." (Alice Walker, The World Will Follow Joy: Turning Madness into Flowers, March 2013)
"When someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to him the other also." (Luke 6:29, The Bible)
"Kiss me on the cheek, if you will, but do not ask me to marry you." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, January 1813)
"If I had a bit more cheek, I would have been a politician." (Liam Gallagher, As It Was, June 2019)
Etymology
The word "cheek" has a long history, tracing its roots back to the very early stages of the English language.
Its journey begins in Old English, which was spoken in England from about the 5th to the 12th century. In Old English, the word was "ċēace" or "ċēce". At this time, it meant not only the fleshy side of the face we think of today but also the "jaw" or "jawbone." So, the first known use primarily referred to the area around the mouth and lower face.
This Old English word, in turn, came from an even older language called Proto-Germanic. This was the ancestor of many Germanic languages, including English, German, and Dutch. In Proto-Germanic, the word was likely something like kaukon.
Interestingly, the meaning of "jaw" or "cheek" in these ancient words is thought to be connected to the idea of "chewing." This makes sense, as the jaw and cheeks are crucial for the act of eating and chewing food.
Over time, as Old English evolved into Middle English and then into Modern English, the meaning of "cheek" became more specifically focused on the soft, fleshy part of the face below the eye. The meaning of "insolence" or "disrespectful behavior" is a much more recent development, appearing around the mid-19th century, possibly from the idea of someone "jawing" or talking back rudely.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cheek
Turn the other cheek: To respond to an injury or insult with non-resistance rather than retaliation.
Cheek by jowl: Very close together, side-by-side.
Tongue in cheek: Meant or expressed ironically or humorously.
Give some lip/sass/back-talk: (Using a synonym for the "impertinence" sense of cheek) To respond rudely or disrespectfully.
Have the cheek to do something: To be audacious or impudent enough to do something.
Put a brave face on it: (Using a related concept to "cheek") To appear courageous or cheerful despite difficulties.
Kiss on the cheek: A common greeting or sign of affection.
Pinch one's cheeks: An affectionate gesture, often towards a child.
Cheek to cheek: Dancing very closely with faces near each other.
A slap on the cheek: A physical gesture, often of insult or challenge.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cheek from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
