The word cheesy is an English colloquialism that is used both literally and figuratively. Cheesy is used to describe food that features a lot of cheese, but the nonliteral meaning is more often used. A colloquialism is a word or phrase that has arisen from English but is not considered formal or grammatical. Colloquial words or phrases are used very frequently in spoken English.
Cheesy Meaning 1: Cheesy means containing lots of cheese and having the taste, smell, and consistency of cheese; and, in regards to non-food items, resembling the consistency of cheese. For example, “cheesy pizza” or a “cheesy pasta sauce.”
Example: “I could really go for some nice cheesy pizza right now.”
Cheesy Meaning 2. Cheap, bad quality, in bad taste, or lacking style; blatantly inauthentic; not very good and unoriginal but in a way that makes it funny (as in a cheesy movie or cheesy song).
Cheesy is often used to describe a smile. A cheesy smile is one so exaggerated that it’s silly, although probably inauthentic and insincere.
The word cheesy, surprisingly, has been used this way since the 1800s, beginning with college student slang. In those days, as well, an ignorant or stupid person might have been called a cheese.
Is “Cheesy” Slang? (Slang vs. Colloquialism)
Because it is a highly informal word, people frequently search for the slang meaning of cheesy. However, linguists technically classify the modern use of the word as a colloquialism rather than pure slang.
What is the difference? Slang is usually restricted to a specific subculture, age group, or time period. Interestingly, “cheesy” actually did begin as 19th-century college student slang! In those days, an ignorant or foolish person was sometimes called a “cheese.”
However, over the last century, the word became so widely understood and universally used by all age groups that it graduated out of slang. Today, it is an established colloquialism, a word that is perfectly acceptable in everyday, informal conversation, but inappropriate for a formal academic paper.
Television and Movie Citations
Because “cheesy” describes things that are overly dramatic, slightly fake, or trying too hard to be profound, it is a favorite descriptive word for screenwriters.
- The Over-The-Top Emotion: In the comedy Bruce Almighty (2003), the word is used to describe obvious, emotionally manipulative background music: “And the cookie is 10 feet, four inches. We have a new record! Cue the cheesy inspirational music!”
- The Inauthentic Smile: In the sitcom Boy Meets World (1997), the word perfectly captures a smile that looks incredibly fake and forced: “Now, all I ask is that, when you meet Jack, you just be yourself, okay? And whatever you do, do not flash that big, phony, plastic, cheesy grin of yours.”
- The Lacking Quality: In Boyhood (2014), it is used to critique a popular vampire novel franchise for being poorly written and melodramatic: “I must be the only girl in school did not read the Twilight books. Do you read?” / “Of course not. I tried… but it was so cheesy!”
- The Cliché Romance: In Wedding Crashers (2005), a character admits a quote is highly unoriginal and overly sentimental, but likes it anyway: “What’s true love? True love is your soul’s recognition of its counterpoint in another.” / “Well, it’s a little cheesy, but… I like it. Uh, I saw it on a bumper sticker.”
The “Cheesy Mustache” (A Running Gag)
In the classic television series M*A*S*H, Captain Hawkeye Pierce maintains a relentless, multi-season running joke about B.J. Hunnicutt’s facial hair, constantly referring to it as his “cheesy mustache.”
Why is a mustache cheesy? In this context, Hawkeye is using the word to mean ostentatious or over-the-top. He is implying that B.J.’s mustache is trying way too hard to look stylish and suave, resulting in something that just looks silly, inauthentic, and a bit ridiculous.
- “Do I have to change you myself?” / “I’m working on it. And when are you gonna get rid of that cheesy mustache?” / “Never! It’s either this or I wear a caterpillar under my nose.” (Peace on Us, 1978)
- “Why do you insist on smelling it?” (referring to Hawkeye smelling his food before eating it) / “Because it’s a little habit I can’t break.” / “Mmm. Kind of like the way you constantly comb your cheesy-looking mustache.” (Ain’t Love Grand, 1979)
- “I’ll never be able to shake you. Whenever I see a big pair of feet or a cheesy mustache, I’ll think of you.” (Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen, 1983)
Examples Of How to Use Cheesy in a Sentence
“My building plays the most cheesy elevator music you can imagine.”
“There is a lot of nostalgia for 80’s culture right now and movies often reference the cheesy style of 80’s movies, complete with the music.
“The movie is full of cheesy effects like talking lions and over-the-top scenes, but with surprisingly good acting.”
“I’m tired of traveling and of endless cheesy hotel rooms. I think it’s time to settle down.”
“I know it sounds cheesy, but I think we are going to be together forever.”
“I’m sorry, I just can’t take him seriously with that big cheesy mustache.”