cheek (redirected from cheeks)

cheek by jowl

Fig. side by side; close together. The pedestrians had to walk cheek by jowl along the narrow streets. The two families lived cheek by jowl in one house.

tongue-in-cheek

Fig. insincere; joking. Ann made a tongue-in-cheek remark to John, and he got mad because he thought she was serious. The play seemed very serious at first, but then everyone saw that it was tongue-in-cheek, and they began laughing.

turn the other cheek

Fig. to ignore abuse or an insult. When Bob got mad at Mary and yelled at her, she just turned the other cheek. Usually I turn the other cheek when someone is rude to me.

See also: other, turn

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cheek by jowl

very close together

Usage notes: Jowl is a word for the loose flesh by the lower jaw, which is very close to the cheek.

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

put the roses in somebody's cheeks  also bring the roses to somebody's cheeks

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

See come out smelling of roses

See also: put, rose

tongue in cheek  also with your tongue in your 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 bite tongue, find tongue, hold tongue, loosen tongue

See also: tongue

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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(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

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

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