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to turn the other cheek

to turn the other cheek

20 6.7
Choose not to fight back after someone hurts or insults you
  • idiom
translation icon : poner la otra mejilla
  • Even after being insulted, she chose to turn the other cheek instead of seeking revenge.

It's it's pretty similar to the, you know, Christian injunction to turn the other cheek and not to get angry.

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Examples

  • You know, do what Jesus said to do and turn the other cheek.

    Blog text (4)
  • We all have to deal with rude people sometimes, and turning the other cheek can be difficult.

    Blog text (9)
  • The good Lord says to turn the other cheek.

  • Maybe you should turn the other cheek.

  • Now, turn the other cheek.

  • I told my first son not to fight, but to turn the other cheek.

    Blog text (28)
  • It takes a lot of strength to turn the other cheek.

  • Jesus did not say "wipe out the Amalekites"; he said "turn the other cheek."

    Blog text (1)
  • However, this does not mean we have to meekly turn the other cheek when someone disrespects us.

    Blog text (29)
  • Turn the other cheek.

Antonyms

105 7.3

To hurt someone because they hurt you

How Forgiving

to forgive
1.4
to turn the other cheek
20 6.7
to let it go
370 3.5
to ignore
1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

turn + the + other + cheek

The literal components ('turn' + 'other' + 'cheek') describe a physical action that a learner can understand, but the intended meaning of refusing to retaliate is a culturally marked, metaphorical extension (biblical origin) that is not fully predictable from the parts. Because the connection to non-retaliation is inferable only with some pragmatic or cultural knowledge, this expression is partially but not fully transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Turn the other cheek comes from a teaching in the Bible, where a person who is hit on one cheek is told to offer the other cheek instead. This strong image of not fighting back explains why the phrase means 'to refuse to retaliate' and to show patience or forgiveness.