noun

cheek

cheek, impudence, nerve

The baby has chubby cheeks.

The baby has chubby cheeks.

He had the cheek to ask for more money.

He had the nerve to ask for more money.

((sb.'s)) cheek a part of sb.'s face She kissed him on the cheek.

to have the cheek ((to-inf)) to be impudent enough to do sth. He had the cheek to ask for more money.

Synonyms: jowl; (for impudence) nerve, gall, audacity

Derived from Old English 'ceace' for 'jaw' or 'jawbone'. The primary meaning relates to the side of the face.

Think of 'turning the other cheek' for the facial part, and 'having the cheek' to do something for the impudence meaning.

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