cheese eater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, humorous, sometimes journalistic or derogatory (depending on context).
Quick answer
What does “cheese eater” mean?
A person who consumes cheese.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who consumes cheese; often used as a neutral descriptor for someone fond of cheese.
Primarily used as a nickname or informal label, often implying someone's dietary preference or characteristic; can be used literally or figuratively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference for hyphenation ('cheese-eater') in UK style guides; both forms are found. More likely to be used literally in UK contexts about food preferences.
Connotations
UK: Often neutral or humorous. US: Can carry a more specific, sometimes derogatory, political/historical connotation (referencing WWII French collaborators).
Frequency
Low frequency in both variants. The literal sense is slightly more common in the UK; the figurative/historical sense is primarily known in US discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “cheese eater” in a Sentence
[determiner] + cheese eater[adjective] + cheese eatercheese eater + [prepositional phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cheese eater” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A as verb
American English
- N/A as verb
adverb
British English
- N/A as adverb
American English
- N/A as adverb
adjective
British English
- N/A as adjective
American English
- N/A as adjective
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in food industry marketing: 'Targeting the casual cheese eater.'
Academic
Extremely rare, except in historical/cultural studies discussing the WWII epithet.
Everyday
Humorous self-description or teasing label among friends: 'He's a real cheese eater.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheese eater”
- Spelling as one word 'cheeseeater' (should be two words or hyphenated).
- Confusing with 'cheesemaker'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency compound noun. More common phrases are 'cheese lover' or 'eats cheese'.
Style guides vary. Both 'cheese eater' (open) and 'cheese-eater' (hyphenated) are acceptable, with a tendency towards hyphenation in UK English for clarity.
Yes, in modern, literal contexts about food preference, it is neutral or humorous. Its connotation depends entirely on context and tone.
Translating it too literally into their language, creating a non-idiomatic or misleading phrase. It's best learned as a fixed lexical unit.
A person who consumes cheese.
Cheese eater is usually informal, humorous, sometimes journalistic or derogatory (depending on context). in register.
Cheese eater: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃiːz ˌiːtə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃiz ˌiːt̬ər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Big cheese eater (play on 'big cheese')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MOUSE (a classic cheese eater) sitting on a piece of cheese. The image links the two words.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONSUMPTION IS IDENTITY (A person is defined by what they consume).
Practice
Quiz
In which context might 'cheese eater' have a negative historical connotation?