cheeks
cheeks — noun
- cheekssingular
- cheeksesplural
1. one of the two soft, rounded areas of skin on the sides of a person's face, loca
one of the two soft, rounded areas of skin on the sides of a person's face, located below the eyes and beside the mouth
Yuna's cheeks turned bright red when everyone looked at her.
cheeks + colour-change collocation (turn/go red)
Minh kissed his grandmother lightly on both cheeks before leaving.
Tears ran down Talia's cheeks as she watched the sad film.
The doctor gently touched the child's cheek to feel for a fever.
After running five kilometres, Maja's cheeks were flushed and warm.
文法句型
plural: cheeks; singular: a cheek
用法筆記
Often used in the plural because people naturally refer to both sides of the face at once. Common descriptive partners include 'flushed', 'rosy', 'hollow', or 'pale'.
常見錯誤
2. bold or impolite behaviour shown in speech or actions, especially toward someone
bold or impolite behaviour shown in speech or actions, especially toward someone older or in a position of authority
First she arrived late, and then she had the cheek to blame the traffic.
have the cheek + to-infinitive — expressing disapproval of boldness
The teacher warned Hari that his cheek would not be tolerated in class.
What cheek! The café added a service charge without telling anyone.
Nia's brother had the cheek to take her dessert while she answered the door.
The politician had the cheek to promise tax cuts and raise taxes a week later.
- politeness
behaviour showing respect and good manners
- respect
the opposite of showing rude disregard for authority
文法句型
have the cheek to do something
what a cheek
用法筆記
Uncountable in most contexts — do not use plural 'cheeks' for this sense. The fixed exclamation 'what a cheek!' is an exception that uses 'a cheek'; avoid 'a cheek' in other contexts. The phrase 'have the cheek to do something' is the most common pattern, always carrying a disapproving tone.
常見錯誤
3. one of the two rounded fleshy parts that form the back area of the body you sit
one of the two rounded fleshy parts that form the back area of the body you sit on
Tendai slipped on the wet floor and landed hard on his right cheek.
countable: a left/right cheek (each half of the buttocks)
The toddler's nappy was too small and left red marks on her chubby cheeks.
Mateo shifted his weight from one cheek to the other during the long bus journey.
The nurse gave the injection in the upper part of the patient's left cheek.
文法句型
usually plural: cheeks; singular: a cheek
用法筆記
Less common than the FACE PART sense. In medical contexts 'buttock' is preferred; 'cheek' is the everyday informal word. The singular form is used when referring specifically to one side.
常見錯誤
cheeks — verb
- cheekspresent simple I / you / we / they
- cheekses3rd person singular
- cheeksing-ing form
- cheeksedpast simple
1. to say something rude or disrespectful to a person in authority, especially a pa
to say something rude or disrespectful to a person in authority, especially a parent, teacher, or older relative
The six-year-old cheeked his babysitter and then refused to apologise.
transitive pattern: cheek + [person being spoken rudely to]
Esme was sent to the head teacher's office for cheeking her maths teacher.
In the film, the young hero cheeked the king and made the whole court laugh.
William's grandmother scolded him sharply when he cheeked her at dinner.
The students were warned not to cheek any of the visiting inspectors.
- talk back to
more neutral in register, not limited to British English; focuses on responding rudely rather than initiating rudeness
- sass
American English equivalent, similarly informal
- be cheeky to
a more common phrasing using the adjective 'cheeky'; 'to cheek someone' is less frequent
- respect
to speak to someone in a polite and considerate way
文法句型
cheek + [person] (direct object)
用法筆記
Primarily British and informal. The subject is most often a child or young person; the object is an adult in authority. The adjective 'cheeky' is far more common than the verb in everyday use.