[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cheeky.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / cheeky

[← C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/C/)

# cheeky

«cheeky» in Mova's school dictionary: **rude or not respectful, but often in a funny or playful way** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (cheeky, cheekier, cheekiest)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (informal, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ) Cheeky means rude or not respectful, but often in a funny or playful way. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#m1)

2) (informal, UK) A cheeky smile or grin is playful and a bit naughty. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#m2)

3) (slang, UK) "A cheeky" something means a small treat you shouldn't really have: "a cheeky biscuit". [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In school and home talk adults call children cheeky for answering back. In stories it shows a lively, naughty character. Phrases: cheeky monkey, cheeky grin, don't be cheeky, cheeky so-and-so.

### examples

- Don't be cheeky to your teacher! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x1)
- He gave me a cheeky grin. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x2)
- You cheeky monkey, you ate my chips! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x3)
- It was cheeky of her to take the last slice. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x4)
- The cheeky seagull stole my sandwich. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x5)
- Fancy a cheeky ice cream on the way home? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x6)
- "Is that your homework or your dog's?" asked the cheeky boy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x7)
- Granny laughed at his cheeky joke. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/#x8)

### note

Informal. Comparative: cheekier, cheekiest. Noun: cheek ("What a cheek!" = how rude). Less common in the USA, where "sassy" or "fresh" is used.

### In the corpora

- ["Well-preserved" is a cheeky way to say someone is old but still looks good.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/9-age-looks-and-size/5/)
- ["Cheeky monkey" means a naughty or rude child, said fondly (UK).](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/14-family-and-behaviour/14/)
- ["Cheeky" means rude or disrespectful, often said lightly (UK).](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/15-behaviour-and-school-reports/13/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «cheeky» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cheeky/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.