To turn the other cheek 🔄

Meaning

To willingly accept an insult or mistreatment without retaliating.

Origin

This idiom originates from a teaching by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. He advised his followers, "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." This was a radical departure from the prevailing culture of honor and retribution. In ancient times, a slap on the right cheek was considered a particular insult, often implying that the offender was striking someone as if they were inferior. By offering the other cheek, the insulted person was not just passively accepting the abuse, but actively challenging the aggressor's status and highlighting the injustice of the act with a surprising and unexpected act of non-violence.

To turn the other cheek represented with emoji🔄

This playful installation, featuring the delightful 🔄 emoji, serves as a gentle reminder of the age-old wisdom, 'to turn the other cheek.' It teaches the viewer that sometimes, the most profound response to adversity is not retaliation, but serene acceptance.

Examples

  • Even though the bully pushed him, he decided to turn the other cheek and walk away.
  • She learned that sometimes, the best way to deal with harsh criticism is to turn the other cheek.
  • The knight, usually quite feisty, decided to turn the other cheek when the dragon offered him a slightly wilted rose.
  • Instead of getting upset when her pet unicorn ate her homework, Lily chose to turn the other cheek and offer it a sugar cube.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'to turn the other cheek' a religious command or just an idiom?

While 'to turn the other cheek' originates as a religious teaching from Jesus, it is now widely used as a secular idiom meaning to accept mistreatment without retaliation. Its biblical roots provide a moral framework, but its contemporary usage often stands independent of religious observance.

What's the opposite of 'to turn the other cheek'?

The opposite of 'to turn the other cheek' is 'to fight fire with fire' or 'to retaliate'. These phrases describe responding to aggression or insult with equal or greater force, directly contrasting the passive acceptance advocated by turning the other cheek.

Did Jesus invent the concept of 'turning the other cheek'?

While Jesus famously taught 'to turn the other cheek,' the principle of non-retaliation had precedents in earlier Jewish traditions. His articulation in the Sermon on the Mount, however, significantly popularized and radicalized the concept within Western culture.

Does 'to turn the other cheek' mean you have to do it literally?

No, 'to turn the other cheek' is an idiom and is not meant to be taken literally. It symbolically represents a choice to respond to aggression with non-violence and restraint, rather than a physical act of presenting oneself for further harm.

Similar to "To turn the other cheek"

To let it slide
Both accept mistreatment, but 'to let it slide' sounds more casual and suggests a knowing decision to overlook something, perhaps out of expediency rather than high-minded principle
To swallow one's pride
Both involve enduring hardship without protest, but 'to swallow one's pride' specifically points to the internal struggle of setting aside ego, whereas 'turning the other cheek' focuses on the outward act of non-retaliation
Suffering fools gladly
Both phrases describe patient endurance, but 'suffering fools gladly' carries a tone of almost amused benevolence towards those causing the trouble, a more active, even patronizing, form of acceptance than the quiet resilience of 'turning the other cheek'

Opposite of "To turn the other cheek"

To give them a taste of their own medicine
This phrase argues for direct retaliation, offering a sharp contrast to 'turning the other cheek' by insisting that injustice should be met with immediate, proportionate reprisal — a tit-for-tat approach that values immediate justice over patient endurance
To stand your ground
Instead of yielding to mistreatment, 'to stand your ground' advocates for firm resistance and defense of one's rights or position. The tension lies in the fundamental disagreement about whether yielding or resisting is the stronger, more appropriate response to adversity

Related to "To turn the other cheek"

An eye for an eye
This ancient principle of retributive justice shares the context of responding to harm but proposes the exact opposite outcome: direct, equivalent punishment rather than passive acceptance
To bite one's tongue
This phrase describes the act of self-restraint in speech, a common companion to 'turning the other cheek' when the choice is made to refrain from verbal retaliation as well as physical
To forgive and forget
While 'turning the other cheek' is about the immediate response to insult, 'forgive and forget' speaks to the longer-term processing of grievances, suggesting a complete release that goes beyond mere non-retaliation
To take it on the chin
This idiom captures the stoic endurance of hardship or criticism, resonating with the quiet acceptance of 'turning the other cheek' but often implying a more general resilience to unavoidable difficulties rather than a specific response to intentional insult