Cheeky (adjective)
2016.05.11
Meaning:
'Cheeky’ means ‘a little rude; having bad manners’. It is from the word ‘cheek’: when our cheeks move we are talking. So ‘cheeky’ basically means someone who talks too much! ‘Cheeky’ basically has a negative nuance. For example, ‘He took your umbrella without asking? That’s cheeky!’ But we also often use ‘cheeky’ in a positive, cute way. For example, ‘That baby is playing with your umbrella! He’s a cheeky boy!’ In this sense, cheeky is similar to the Japanese word ‘genki’. But ‘genki’ seems 100% positive; ‘cheeky’ = ‘genki’ + ‘a little bad-mannered’.
Example:
A: I hear you’re training your new dog. How is it going?
B: Oh, it’s difficult. He’s so cheeky! Yesterday he pulled all the toilet paper onto the floor.
A: Here he is! Cheeky doggie! You’re so cute, how can you be such a bad doggie!
Talking Point(s):
Were you a cheeky child or a well-behaved one?
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