cheek (redirected from cheeking)

cheek by jowl

very close together. The poor lived cheek by jowl in industrial mining towns in Victorian England.

put the roses in someone's cheeks

to make someone look healthy. A brisk walk will soon put the roses back in your cheeks.

See also: rose

tongue in cheek

if you say something tongue in cheek, what you have said is a joke, although it might seem to be serious. 'And we all know what a passionate love life I have!,' he said, tongue in cheek.

See also: tongue

tongue-in-cheek

tongue in cheek - if you say something tongue in cheek, what you have said is a joke, although it might seem to be serious. She writes a very engaging and at times tongue-in-cheek account of her first meeting with the royal family.

turn the other cheek

if you turn the other cheek when someone attacks or insults you, you do not get angry and attack or insult them but stay calm instead. Neither nation is renowned for turning the other cheek.

See also: other, turn

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cheek by jowl

very close together. Business and residential buildings have been developed cheek by jowl in this city.

Etymology: based on the idea that the cheek and jowl (= parts of the face) are very close to each other

(with) tongue in cheek

in a way that is not serious, although it appears to be. Karl explained, tongue in cheek, that he was busy with housecleaning.

See also: tongue

turn the other cheek

to decide not to do anything to hurt someone who has hurt you. When someone attacks you personally, the best approach may be to turn the other cheek.

Etymology: based on the Biblical instruction to turn the other cheek (= if someone hits you, a better response than hitting them is to turn your face so that they can hit you on the other side)

See also: other, turn