cheek up to

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

She thought of her sister Elizabeth with her eight, and remembered that one who cheeked up to the teachers, so pretty and sulky and shabby, ...

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 to” mean?

To act disrespectfully toward (someone).

Is “cheek up to” formal or informal?

cheek up to is generally informal.