different between unabashed vs cheeky

English

Etymology

un- +? abashed

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: ?n'?-b?sht?, IPA^(key): /??n??bæ?t/
• Rhymes: -æ?t

Adjective

unabashed (comparative more unabashed, superlative most unabashed)

1. Not disconcerted or embarrassed.

   Synonyms: abashless, composed, poised, unaffected, undaunted, unshamed

   • 1866, Wilkie Collins, Armadale, Third book, Chapter V:

     For the third time Allan looked at his lawyer. And for the third time his lawyer looked back at him quite unabashed.

   • 1919, Rabindranath Tagore, "Letter to M. K. Gandhi":

     Armed with her utter faith in the goodness she must stand unabashed before the arrogance that scoffs at the power of spirit.

2. Of actions, emotions, facts, etc.: that are not concealed or disguised, or not eliciting shame.

   Synonyms: abashless, barefaced, blatant, impudent, obvious, shameless, unrestrained

   • 1920, Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence, Chapter XXV,

     [...]; a balance not artfully calculated, as her tears and her falterings showed, but resulting naturally from her unabashed sincerity.

Translations

English

Etymology

From cheek +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?i?ki/
• Rhymes: -i?ki

Adjective

cheeky (comparative cheekier, superlative cheekiest)

1. (informal) Impudent; impertinent; impertinently bold, often in a way that is regarded as endearing or amusing.
2. (informal) (of swimwear, underwear, etc.) tending to reveal the cheeks of the buttocks.
3. (Australian Aboriginal) Poisonous (of animals such as snakes), dangerous, cunning, violent, potent.
   • 1994, Victoria Katherine Burbank, Fighting Women: Anger and Aggression in Aboriginal Australia, Univ of California Press ?ISBN, page 57

     A death adder is cheeky, a tree snake quiet. Wasps are only cheeky if you hold them in your hand.

   • 1995, Richard Shine, Australian Snakes: A Natural History, Cornell University Press ?ISBN, page 176

     There is no doubt that many have been killed by large elapids, and that Aborigines treat such 'cheeky' snakes (and colubrids of similar appearance) with great respect.

4. (informal, Britain) Indulged in.
   • 2009, Amy Huberman, Hello, Heartbreak, Penguin UK ?ISBN

     Although sometimes I'd award myself a cheeky McDonald's hangover treat if I did well.

   • 2010, Richard Herring, How Not to Grow Up: A Coming of Age Memoir. Sort of., Random House ?ISBN, page 285

     It was a massive struggle to resist the lure of a cheeky beer, but I held firm.

   • 2011, John Donoghue, Police, Crime & 999, Troubador Publishing Ltd ?ISBN, page 7

     It transpired that Mrs Egg had been cooking dinner when she discovered Mr Singlet making himself a sandwich. I don't know about you but it does seem a little bit naught after she's gone to all that effort. Naughty yes but hardly a crime and certainly not enough to warrant a 999 call. Yet that's what she had done. That's why we had left our own dinner, charged through rush hour traffic, disrupted commuters on their way home – all for a cheeky sandwich.

   • 2011, James Goss, Torchwood: First Born, Random House ?ISBN, page 20

     The great thing was it gave him a little bit of freedom and me the chance to sneak a cheeky nap.

Synonyms

• saucy
• insolent
• See Thesaurus:cheeky

Derived terms

• cheeky chappie
• cheeky chops
• cheeky monkey

Translations