Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cheek by jowl

/ˌt͡ʃik baɪ ˈd͡ʒaʊl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.06 in modern English

Syllables: cheek by jowl
IPA: /ˌt͡ʃik baɪ ˈd͡ʒaʊl/

35

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

1

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In very close physical proximity; crowded together; side by side.

British usage

adv

In very close or intimate association.

British usage

adj

Often in the form cheek-by-jowl: in very close physical proximity; crowded together; tightly packed.

British usage

Example Sentences

"Ile go vvith thee, cheeke by iovvle."
"VVee ſee Marchants, countrie-Iuſtices, and Artificers to march cheeke by joll vvith our Nobilitie, in valour, and military diſcipline."
"[T]heir Churches ſtand vvide open early and late, inviting as it vvere all comers, […] the Cobler vvill kneel vvith the Count; and the Laundreſs gig by goll vvith her Lady, there being no Pevvs there to cauſe pride and envy, contentions and quarrels vvhich are ſo rife in our Churches."
"A Sheep-hook then, with Patch his Dog, / And Tar-box by his side; / He with his Master, jig by jowl, / Unto old Gillian hy'd."
"[…] I believe I crammed them [two petitions] baith into his hand cheek by jowl, and maybe my ain was boonmost; […]"
"Names upon your roll / Of half my subjects rescued by your skill— / Old and young, rich and poor—crowd cheek by jowl"

Etymology

From cheek + by + jowl (“cheek; jaw”) (or possibly jowl (“fold of fatty flesh under the chin, around the cheeks, or lower jaw; cheek”) or jowl (“(obsolete) head”)), suggesting people so close to each other that the cheek of one person is next to the jowl of another.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌt͡ʃik baɪ ˈd͡ʒaʊl/
British English: /ˌt͡ʃiːk baɪ ˈd͡ʒaʊl/

Usage

British usage

Inflected Forms

more cheek by jowl (comparative) most cheek by jowl (superlative) cheek-by-jowl (alternative) cheek-to-jowl (alternative) cheek to jowl (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

chockablock

Synonyms

alongside cheek for chowl elbow to elbow shoulder-to-shoulder tooth-to-jowl packed like sardines

Rhymes With

foul towel powell owl bowel vowel howl growl fowl neither fish nor fowl cowl prowl

Questions

How do you pronounce cheek by jowl?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌt͡ʃik baɪ ˈd͡ʒaʊl/.
What does cheek by jowl mean?: In very close physical proximity; crowded together; side by side.
Where does cheek by jowl come from?: From cheek + by + jowl (“cheek; jaw”) (or possibly jowl (“fold of fatty flesh under the chin, around the cheeks, or lower jaw; cheek”) or jowl (“(obsolete) head”)), suggesting people so close to each other that the cheek of one person is next to the jowl of another.

How to pronounce cheek by jowl

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cheek by jowl”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌt͡ʃik baɪ ˈd͡ʒaʊl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “cheek by jowl” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.