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 cheek to ask for more money.

((one's)) cheek someone's cheek The baby has chubby cheeks.

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

Synonyms: jowl (fleshy part of the lower cheek); nerve, audacity, impudence (for the second meaning)

From Old English 'cēce', meaning 'jaw, jawbone'.

For the first meaning, picture pinching a baby's chubby cheeks. For the second, think of the phrase 'to have the nerve', which is similar in meaning.

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