cheek

Your cheeks are the fleshy sides of your face beneath your eyes. But "cheek" isn't just about anatomy. In informal speech (often in the plural), it can also refer to the buttocks. It can also describe someone who is boldly disrespectful—having "cheek" means being a bit sassy or impertinent. Think of a mischievous child with a cheeky grin.

You might feel your cheeks flush when you're embarrassed, and you could "turn the other cheek" as a gesture of forgiveness. A person with "gall" or "nerve" is often described as having "cheek." The body-part sense is very old in English, and the sense of "impudence" developed later to capture that specific brand of saucy, forward behavior we often see in spirited characters.

The most familiar meaning of "cheek" refers to the soft, fleshy part of your face located on either side of your nose. It's where you might feel a blush rise when embarrassed or experience the sting of a cold wind. "Her cheeks were rosy from the winter chill."

However, "cheek" has a fascinating secondary meaning: boldness, impudence, or audacity—often with a playful edge. To have "cheek" is to be somewhat disrespectful or forward, but not necessarily in a malicious way. It suggests a confident disregard for convention. "He had the cheek to ask for a raise after being late every day!"

This second meaning comes from the idea that someone with "cheek" is "showing their face"—presenting themselves boldly even when they shouldn't. Historically, it implied a willingness to be defiant or impertinent. You might describe a child as "cheeky" if they are playfully disobedient, or accuse someone of having "unmitigated cheek" if they've behaved outrageously.

In more casual use, especially when you hear it in the plural ("cheeks"), it can also mean the buttocks. This sense is usually clear from context and often shows up in jokes, mild insults, or physical descriptions.

Less commonly, "cheek" can name a side piece or side surface of something (for example, the "cheek" of a cliff, or the "cheeks" of a vise). And as a verb, to "cheek" someone means to speak to them rudely or insolently.

The phrase "turn the other cheek" comes from the Bible and represents a response to insult or injury with forgiveness rather than retaliation. It's a powerful image of restraint and compassion.

So whether you're describing a physical feature, a personality trait, or an act of defiance, "cheek" is a versatile word that speaks to both appearance and attitude.