idiom / phrasal verb · formal
turn the other cheek
UK/tɜːn ði ˈʌðə ʧiːk/US/tɜrn ði ˈʌðər ʧiːk/CHEEK
to accept an insult or injury without retaliating; to respond to wrongdoing with patience rather than revenge
Examples
“He chose to turn the other cheek rather than start a fight.”
“In many cultures, people are taught to turn the other cheek in face of minor insults.”
“When provoked, she would often turn the other cheek and walk away.”
Band 8 sentence
“Rather than escalate the dispute, she chose to turn the other cheek, which defused the situation.”
Collocations
- turn the other cheek + to/to someone
- turn the other cheek in response to criticism
Word family
Common mistakes
turn a cheek→turn the other cheek
turn the cheek→turn the other cheek
Say it for a higher band
5put up with→6forgive→7+turn the other cheek
Synonyms
forgive
bear
Easily confused
forgive
“She forgave him for the mistake and they moved on.”
Related words
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