cheese
A2Neutral to informal. Predominantly used in everyday conversation and food contexts; specialized registers exist (e.g., dairy science). Extended uses are informal.
Definition
Meaning
A food made from the pressed curds of milk, often produced in a wide variety of flavours and textures.
In broader usage, can refer to something of high quality ('the big cheese'), something seen as cheesy (lame/overly sentimental), a simple photographic prompt ('say cheese!'), or used in exclamations to show frustration ('cheese and crackers!').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a mass noun for the food substance, but can be a count noun when referring to varieties ('a selection of cheeses'). The word is culturally loaded, associated with dairy farming, indulgence, and simple pleasures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Little difference in core meaning. British 'cheese' often references specific national varieties (e.g., Cheddar, Stilton) in common parlance. American 'cheese' frequently refers to processed 'American cheese' slices in casual contexts.
Connotations
UK: Strongly tied to regional identity, farming heritage, and culinary tradition. US: Often associated with convenience food, snacks, and pizza/toppings, alongside artisanal movements.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties. The word is foundational in culinary vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Have some [cheese]Grate the [cheese]Made from [cheese]A piece of [cheese]Top with [cheese]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The big cheese (important person)”
- “Say cheese! (for photos)”
- “Cheesed off (annoyed, UK)”
- “Hard cheese! (bad luck, UK)”
- “Cheese it! (run away, archaic US)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In retail: 'cheese sales', 'cheese counter'. In management slang: 'he's the big cheese in the department.'
Academic
In food science: 'cheese maturation', 'proteolysis in cheese'. In cultural studies: 'cheese as a cultural signifier.'
Everyday
Overwhelmingly common: 'I'll have cheese on my pasta.', 'Can you buy some cheese?'
Technical
In dairy technology: 'cheese rennet', 'cheese pH', 'curd knitting'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Stop cheesing about and get to work! (to fool around)
- The goalkeeper absolutely cheesed it into the net. (slammed/kicked forcefully, informal)
American English
- He cheesed the security camera with a big smile. (to smile broadly for)
- They cheesed the ball downfield. (threw hard, informal)
adverb
British English
- He smiled cheese at the camera. (non-standard, informal)
American English
- Go on, smile cheese! (non-standard, informal)
adjective
British English
- That joke was a bit cheese. (cheesy)
- He has a cheese-eating grin. (broad, silly)
American English
- The decor was totally cheese. (cheesy)
- She gave a cheese smile for the photo.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like cheese on my pizza.
- This is a cheese sandwich.
- The mouse ate the cheese.
- Could you grate some cheese for the pasta?
- She ordered a cheeseboard with three different cheeses.
- Say cheese so we can take a nice picture!
- The cheesemonger recommended a particularly ripe Camembert.
- He was cheesed off after his train was cancelled.
- The film's dialogue was painfully cheesy.
- The artisanal cheese-making process relies on specific ambient moulds.
- As the big cheese around here, he made all the final decisions.
- The politician's response was a classic example of rhetorical cheesemongering, full of empty promises.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CHEESE: Cows Help Everyone Eat Something Excellent. Think of a smiling person saying 'cheese' for a photo, showing their teeth, which might need cleaning if they eat too much sticky cheese.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHEESE IS IMPORTANCE ('the big cheese'). CHEESE IS ANNOYANCE ('cheesed off'). CHEESE IS SENTIMENTALITY ('cheesy movie').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian 'сыр' (syr) refers primarily to hard/aged cheeses. The English 'cheese' includes soft varieties like cottage cheese or cream cheese, which are 'творог' (tvorog) or 'сливочный сыр' (slivochnyy syr) in Russian. This can cause confusion in recipes.
- 'Say cheese!' is a fixed phrase with no direct Russian equivalent. Translating it literally ('скажи сыр!') sounds nonsensical.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'a cheese' incorrectly for uncountable reference: 'I like cheese' (not 'I like a cheese').
- Spelling confusion with 'cheeze' (non-standard).
- Overusing 'cheesy' to mean 'tasty' instead of 'corny/sentimental'.
Practice
Quiz
In American informal English, what does 'the big cheese' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable when referring to the food substance ('I love cheese'). It becomes countable when referring to different types or varieties ('The shop sells over fifty French cheeses').
'Cheesy' means overly sentimental, clichéd, or inauthentic ('a cheesy romance novel'). 'Cheesed off' (primarily British) means annoyed or fed up ('I'm cheesed off with the constant delays').
The long 'ee' sound in 'cheese' naturally forces the mouth into a smile-like position, showing the teeth, which was considered photogenic. The phrase was popularised in the mid-20th century.
In common usage, 'American cheese' refers to a processed cheese product, typically sold in slices. It is made from a blend of cheeses, milk, and emulsifiers. It is not considered a traditional, natural cheese by many standards.
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Food and Drink
A1 · 49 words · Common words for food, drink and meals.
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