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• Turn the other cheek
  Turn the other cheek

  An adaptation of a command of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”; but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
• turn the other cheek
  turn the other cheek

  Respond meekly or mildly to insult or injury without retaliating. For example, There's no point in arguing with that unreasonable supervisor; just turn the other cheek. This expression comes from the New Testament, in which Jesus tells his followers to love their enemies and offer their other cheek to those who have struck one cheek (Luke 6:29).

Turn the other cheek

Cultural  

1. An adaptation of a command of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”; but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

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turn the other cheek Idioms  

1. Respond meekly or mildly to insult or injury without retaliating. For example, There's no point in arguing with that unreasonable supervisor; just turn the other cheek. This expression comes from the New Testament, in which Jesus tells his followers to love their enemies and offer their other cheek to those who have struck one cheek (Luke 6:29).

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To “turn the other cheek” is thus to accept injuries and not to seek revenge.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Turn the other cheek turn the other cheek

Turn the other cheek at your own peril.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2019

Thus verses like "Turn the other cheek," "Love your enemies" and "Rejoice when reproached," all part of Q, embody the practices of a community of charity, hope and neighborliness.

From Time Magazine Archive

Turn the other cheek, surrender tunic along with cloak.

From Religion and the War by Various

Then she says, "Turn the other cheek," and he turns his furry chops for her to kiss.

From Concerning Cats My Own and Some Others by Helen M. Winslow

The offended parties can also choose to turn the other cheek, though all eyes seem fixed on the gallows.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

But to turn the other cheek at this point, or even to chalk these changes up to healthful new habits, would be to ignore the obvious.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026

The British foreign secretary, David Cameron, acknowledged just before meeting with the prime minister that Israel was unlikely to heed pleas to turn the other cheek.

From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2024

“It’s a constant thing,” said Gude, who said that he instructs protesters to turn the other cheek.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2024

So common, in fact, that people ignore it, turn the other cheek, or go back to bed.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

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