cheeky

In British English, cheeky means playfully rude or bold in a way that’s more charming than offensive. It also has a second, very British meaning: a little treat you probably shouldn’t have, like a cheeky pint.

What cheeky means

Merriam-Webster defines cheeky as boldly rude, impudent or disrespectful, usually in a playful or appealing way. That last part matters. A cheeky child is the one who gives a clever answer back with a grin. A cheeky comment pushes a line but gets a laugh. Americans might say sassy or impish.

The “little treat” meaning

Wiktionary records a UK and Commonwealth sense: something indulged in as a treat, especially an unhealthy one. A cheeky pint after work, a cheeky takeaway on a Tuesday, a cheeky extra biscuit. Here “cheeky” admits you’re being a bit naughty and invites everyone to approve.

The most famous example is “cheeky Nando’s,” a joke about the chicken restaurant chain. Know Your Meme says the phrase went viral on British social media in late 2014, with the earliest known use in the title of a track uploaded to SoundCloud in 2011.

Examples

• “Don’t be cheeky, you know exactly what I meant.”
• “Fancy a cheeky drink after work?”
• “He gave me a cheeky wink and walked off.”

Where it came from

It comes from “cheek,” meaning nerve or impudence, as in “the cheek of it!” Merriam-Webster gives a first known use of 1838. Note for shoppers: in fashion, “cheeky” swimwear or underwear means cut to show some of your behind, a different joke on a different cheek.

Related terms

• Bants: playful banter.
• Brekkie: breakfast.
• Innit: “isn’t it.”
• Savage: brutally harsh, the step beyond cheeky.

See more terms like this in our British slang guide.