# cheeky

Pronunciation: say "CHEE-kee" /ˈt͡ʃiːki/

## Adjective

1. Boldly disrespectful or impertinent in a teasing way that people often find amusing or endearing rather than offensive. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Bold and a little rude, but in a way that is often funny or charming.
   - _His cheeky reply to the question made even the principal laugh out loud._
   - _The toddler shot her grandmother a cheeky smile before hiding the television remote._
2. Enjoyed as a small, self-indulgent treat, typically on impulse and with a sense of mild, playful naughtiness. *(colloquial, Commonwealth, UK)*
   - Simple: Done or enjoyed as a small, fun treat, often without much planning.
   - _He treated himself to a cheeky takeaway after a long shift at the hospital._
   - _They booked a cheeky weekend break to celebrate finishing the project early._
3. Cut so as to leave part of the buttocks exposed, as with certain styles of underwear or swimwear. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Made to show part of the buttocks, like some underwear and swimsuits.
   - _The boutique's cheeky bikini briefs are designed to reveal the lower curve of the buttocks._
   - _He found the cut of the cheeky underwear a little too revealing for his taste._
4. Dangerous, poisonous, cunning, violent, or potent. Used in Australian Aboriginal English, especially of snakes and other harmful animals. *(Australia)*
   - Simple: Dangerous, poisonous, or harmful. Used by Aboriginal people in Australia, for example about snakes.
   - _The old stockman warned that the brown snake was cheeky and best left well alone._
   - _Grandfather showed us which spiders were cheeky and which ones were quiet enough to ignore._

## Origin

Formed from cheek plus the suffix -y.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cheeky (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).