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cheek
cheek / chēk/ • n. 1. either side of the face below the eye: tears rolled down her cheeks. ∎ either of the inner sides of the mouth. ∎ inf. either of the buttocks. ∎ either of two side pieces or parts in a structure. 2. [in sing.] impertinent talk or behavior: he had the cheek to complain. PHRASES: cheek by jowl close together; side by side: the houses were packed cheek by jowl along the coast. [ORIGIN: from a use of jowl in the sense ‘cheek’; the phrase was originally cheek by cheek.] cheek to cheek (of two people dancing) with their heads close together in an intimate way. turn the other cheek refrain from retaliating when one has been attacked or insulted. [ORIGIN: with biblical allusion to Matt. 5:39.]DERIVATIVES: cheeked adj. [in combination] rosy-cheeked. |
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Cite this article
"cheek." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cheek." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cheek.html "cheek." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cheek.html |
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cheek
cheek cheek by jowl in close proximity with, close together (the phrase was originally cheek by cheek).
cheek to cheek (of two people dancing) with their heads close together in an intimate and romantic way. turn the other cheek refrain from retaliating when one has been attacked or insulted, originally with biblical allusion to Matthew 5:39. |
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "cheek." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "cheek." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-cheek.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "cheek." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-cheek.html |
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cheek
cheek †jaw, jawbone; fleshy side of the face OE.; side, side-piece (in techn. uses) XIV; insolence XIX. OE. ċēoce = OFris. ziāke :- WGmc. *keukōn; varying with OE. ċē(a)ce = (M)LG. kāke, kēke, MDu. kāke (Du. kaak) :- WGmc. *kǣkōn.
Hence cheeky XIX. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "cheek." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "cheek." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cheek.html T. F. HOAD. "cheek." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cheek.html |
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cheek
cheek. Narrow vertical face, usually one of two corresponding opposite faces, as in the sides of an opening or of a projection (e.g. a buttress, dormer-window, or chimney-breast).
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Cite this article
JAMES STEVENS CURL. "cheek." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "cheek." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-cheek.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "cheek." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-cheek.html |
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cheek
cheek
•antique, batik, beak, bespeak, bezique, bleak, boutique, cacique, caïque, cheek, chic, clique, creak, creek, critique, Dominique, eke, freak, geek, Greek, hide-and-seek, keek, Lalique, leak, leek, Martinique, meek, midweek, Mozambique, Mustique, mystique, oblique, opéra comique, ortanique, peak, Peake, peek, physique, pique, pratique, reek, seek, shriek, Sikh, sleek, sneak, speak, Speke, squeak, streak, teak, technique, tongue-in-cheek, tweak, unique, veronique, weak, week, wreak
•stickybeak • grosbeak • houseleek
•forepeak • technospeak • newspeak
•doublespeak • hairstreak • tugrik
•fenugreek • Realpolitik • Ostpolitik
•pipsqueak • workweek
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Cite this article
"cheek." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cheek." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cheek.html "cheek." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cheek.html |
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