cheek Hear it!

cheek Definition

cheek (c̸hēk)

noun

  1. either side of the face between the nose and ear, below the eye
  2. either of two sides of a thing, as the sides of a door jamb or the jaws of a vise: usually used in pl.
  3. either of the buttocks
  4. Informal disrespectful boldness; sauciness; effrontery; impudence

Etymology: ME cheke < OE ceoke, jaw, jawbone; akin to Du kaak, LowG kâke, jaw (only WGmc)

transitive verb

Brit., Informal to speak insolently to

cheek Idioms

cheek by jowl

close together; intimately

cheek Synonyms

cheek

n.

  1. Either side of the face

    jowl, gill, chop*; see face 1.

  2. *Insolence

    impertinence, impudence, disrespect; see rudeness, temerity. See syn. study at temerity.

cheek Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • flush: Maroon is the color of burgundy wines and flushed cheeks and smacked bottoms and port and gout and winter uniforms.
  • blush: Her dress is badly crumpled but her smile triumphant, beams between her blushing cheeks.
  • kiss: Nobody ever stopped us, an incredible fact these days when a 6 year old can be removed from school for kissing a cheek.
  • turn: Forget about turning the other cheek, revenge is good for you.

Adjective modifier

  • bare-faced: Llewellyn's disappearance, Cathy's extra brownie points, George's secret URL and Danny's bare-faced cheek.
  • rosy: For long-lasting blushing bride rosy cheeks, now's the time to apply a little crème blusher to the apples of the cheeks.
  • ruddy: Inside these towering properties, smoking cauldrons of yak butter tea are tended by women with ruddy cheeks scorched by the elements.
  • chubby: His feet would tangle in the wind and his chubby cheeks would be in a constant smile, while I would get ridiculously dizzy.
  • sunken: Behold these sad eyes, these sunken cheeks, this withered frame!

Modifies a noun

  • pouch: They posses cheek pouches which can carry food whilst they are foraging.
  • swab: Alternatively, for very young or old donors, cheek swabs can be used.
  • tooth: The grinding surfaces of these cheek teeth are called tables.
  • bone: Those cheek bones aren't what they used to be...
  • patch: The cheek patch can tell you whether a bird is a light, dark or medium of the color.
  • meat: This might lead to contamination of other parts of the carcass, such as the cheek meat.

Noun used with modifier

  • ass: My knuckles were white and my ass cheeks clenched tight, Kim laughed and the Nepali raft guides slept their hang overs off.
  • butt: The only cheek he's going to be turning is his butt cheek in a salutary mooning of his stunned opponent!

Possessives

  • pig: My biggest pleasure is when I see a girl tucking into pig's cheeks.

Preposition: by

  • jowl: They saw some broken-down wooden huts cheek by jowl with a line new electric station.
cheek Quotes

A certain institution in Mr Podsnap's mind which he called 'the young person'may be considered to have been embodied in Miss Podsnap, his daughter†The question about everything was, would it bring a blush into the cheek of the young person?

—Dickens, CharlesJohn Huffam

Wesit†and lookout attheboysintheir happy play†we kneel still with one little cheek wistfully pressed against the pane†and we go and stand before the glass.We see the complexion we were not to spoil, and the white frock† Then the curse begins to act upon us. It finishes its work when we are grown women, who no more look out wistfullyat a more healthy life; we are contented.We fit our sphere as a Chinese woman's foot fits her shoe, exactly, as though God made bothöand yet he knows nothing of either.

—Iron

   Of her choice virtues only gods should speak, Or English poets who grew up on Greek (I'd have them sing in chorus, cheek to cheek).

—Rogers,Will

Oh there is blessing in this gentle breeze, Avisitant that while it fans my cheek Doth seem half conscious of the joy it brings From the green fields, and from yon azure sky. Whate'er its mission, the soft breeze can come To none more grateful than to me; escaped From the vast city, where I long had pined A discontented sojourner: now free, Free as a bird to settle where I will.

—Wordsworth,William

Ask me no more: what answer should I give? I love not hollow cheek or faded eye: Yet,O my friend, I will not have thee die! Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live.

—Tennyson

   We had no use for the teachings of the Gospels: if someone slaps you, just turn the other cheek.We had shown that anyone who slapped us on our cheek would get his head kicked off.

—Khrushchev, Nikita Sergeyevich

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you,That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing On the Morning of Christ's Nativity Such notes as, warbled to the string, Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek, And made Hell grant what Love did seek.

—Milton,John

Even so for me a vision sanctified The sway of death; long ere my eyes had seen Thy countenanceöthe still rapture of thy mienö When thou, dear Sister! wert become death's bride: No trace of pain or languor could abide That changeöage on thy brow was smoothedöthy cold Wan cheek at once was privileged to unfold A loveliness to living youth denied. Oh! if within me hope should e'er decline, The lamp of faith, lost Friend! too faintly burn; The may that heaven-revealing smile of thine, The bright assurance, visibly return: And let my spirit in that power divine Rejoice, as, through that power, it ceased to mourn.

—Wordsworth,William

The way was long, the wind was cold, The Minstrel was infirm and old; His withered cheek, and tresses grey, Seemed to have known a better day; The harp, his sole remaining joy, Was carried byan orphan boy, The last of all the Bards was he, Who sung of Border chivalry.

—Scott, Sir Walter