cheeks - Master This Word
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cheeks Word Meanings
- the fleshy part of the face below the eyes
- to push someone playfully with the cheek
- to act with impudence or audacity
cheeks Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
cheeks Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/tʃiːk/
US
/tʃik/
cheeks Word Etymology
cheek = cheek; Old English cec, from Proto-West Germanic *káika, connected to the fleshy part of the face. Memory image: imagine a child pinching their own cheek to see if it's real, emphasizing the softness and fleshiness of the area.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I lean in and move a hand to my cheek, adjusting my stance as I notice my friend's smile. I push my cheek toward theirs in a light, playful nudge, feeling the skin warm and a laugh rise. The moment shifts ordinary talk into a spark of boldness, a small act that says I’m in on the joke without a word. That cheek, and the act of using it, starts to feel like a tiny tool I can bring into conversations to test trust and spark connection.
Real Context
Cheek is a versatile word that refers to the fleshy part of the face below the eyes, usually the area you might touch when applying makeup or when a doctor checks for swelling. It also appears in informal English as a verb sense meaning to push or nudge someone playfully with the cheek. More commonly, cheek signals audacity or impudence, as in the phrase have/has cheek or to have the cheek to do something, which characterizes bold or brazen behavior. Learners should recognize the difference between the literal body-part meaning and the figurative sense, and be aware of the related adjective cheeky, which describes behavior that is pleasantly bold or impudent.
Usage Reminders
- Remember: cheek as body part is countable (one cheek, two cheeks) and often collocates with touch, pinch, or brush. Do not confuse cheek with chin or jaw. The idiom have the cheek to do something is more formal/abrasive emphasis than just bold. Cheeky describes bold, playful behavior, not harsh insult. The verb sense to cheek someone is rare and regionally limited. Pronounce /tʃiːk/ with a long ee sound. Distinguish between cheeky and churlish in tone. Use in informal speech rather than formal writing.
Common Misconceptions
- Cheek only means the body part, not a feeling or attitude.
- Confusing cheek with chin or jaw when talking about faces.
- Assuming 'to cheek someone' is a common everyday verb in all varieties of English.
- Thinking cheeky always means insult rather than playful boldness.
- Misunderstanding 'have the cheek to' as only literal permission rather than audacity.
Thinking Differences
In English, the literal body-part sense of cheek is common in medical or casual contexts, but the figurative audacity sense is highly idiomatic and culture-specific; learners often stumble over have the cheek to do something, which conveys defiance rather than mere boldness.
Learning Tips
- Practice the two main senses separately: anatomy and audacity.
- Mnemonic: cheek = face, cheeky = bold in a playful way.
- Note the fixed expression have the cheek to do something.
- Be careful with verb forms; cheek as a verb is rare in some dialects.
- Listen to British vs American usage for 'cheek' phrases.
- Record yourself saying the word with the two pronunciations.
Related Listening
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