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Glite Dictionary
to have the cheek

to have the cheek

1 8.2
To be rude enough to do something that shows no respect
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : tener la cara
  • But at some points I was getting all this, all these, all these comments, all these, all this noise, all these guys having the cheek to ask me this question.

Examples

  • You don't even let us write to our families, and you have the cheek to sit there... and lecture us on good manners!

    Paradise Road (1997)

  • No one has ever had the cheek to ask him.

    Golden Earrings (1947)

  • And this is what the chancellor has the cheek to call a strong economy.

  • But at some points I was getting all this, all these, all these comments, all these, all this noise, all these guys having the cheek to ask me this question.

  • Apple has the cheek to say people should innovate!

    Blog text (4)

  • Lazy, idle, slovenly, and then they have the cheek to come round for a Christmas box.

    A Kind of Loving (1962)

  • He goes on day and night and has the cheek to claim that the discussion is being broken off because of fear of the great might of John Reed.

    Reds (1981)

  • EDL has been more than a month since the crisis is over; no one mentions the unhappy past, and I have the cheek to continue to work hard in the same regiment.

    Blog text (8)

  • He had the cheek to suggest that he deserves a promotion after missing so many deadlines.

  • I cannot believe she has the cheek to criticize my work when hers is far from perfect.

Synonyms

to have the gall
vsto have the cheek
  • Informal
14 7.9

Be bold enough to do something rude or shocking

shows rude impudence often surprising or disrespectful

Antonyms

humility
105 3.8

Being modest and not thinking you are better than other people

modesty
27 3.5

Not being proud or bragging about your abilities

How Audacious

brazenness
2 7.3
to have the gall
  • Informal
14 7.9
to have the nerve
  • Informal
68 6.2
to have the cheek
  • UK
1 8.2
to dare
516 1.1

Surface Forms

have the cheek infinitive
had the cheek past
had the cheek past participle
having the cheek present participle
has the cheek third person singular

Morphology

have + the + cheek

Given that 'cheek' is defined here as 'bold, disrespectful or impudent speech or behaviour', the phrase 'have the cheek' is a straightforward composition: to 'have' (possess) that impudence. The definite article does not block transparency and the pattern 'have the + noun (quality)' is a common, cross-linguistically accessible way to express possessing an attitude, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings will understand the MWE.

Etymology

Have the cheek may come from the older use of cheek to mean bold, rude talk. Imagine someone speaking back to a person in charge with no shame — that image shows why have the cheek means 'to have the audacity to do something'.