Your cheek is the soft part of your face below your eye and beside your nose and mouth. Informally, “cheek” can also mean bold or disrespectful behavior.
“Cheek” comes from Old English “ceace” or “ceke,” meaning jaw or side of the face. It has long been used for both the physical part of the face and, later, the idea of boldness.
The jump from face part to attitude isn’t random—“cheek” as rudeness comes from the idea of someone sticking their face out at you. British English still uses “cheeky” for playful boldness, like a “cheeky joke” or a “cheeky snack.” Your cheeks are literally where your bold expressions live.
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