cheek up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To act disrespectfully toward (someone).
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
An 'uncle' later offered the young Horatio a position in his solicitor's practice but the stupid boy cheeked up his employer instead of apologizing after making a mistake and informed him that, 'To err is human, but to forgive is divine'.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cheek up” mean?
To act disrespectfully toward (someone).
Is “cheek up” formal or informal?
cheek up is generally informal.