Andy Montoya
Cheesed off is an idiomatic phrase that means to be annoyed, angry, irritated, or exasperated. It is often used in British English and is considered to be equivalent to the phrase pissed off in American English. The phrase cheesed off is believed to have originated during World War II and was first printed in 1941. While the exact etymology of the phrase is unknown, it is thought to be unrelated to cheese, the dairy product.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | British, dating back to World War II |
| Meaning | Annoyed, angry, irritated, exasperated, fed up, disgruntled, bored |
| Synonyms | "Browned off", "pissed off" |
| Use in a sentence | "I was a bit cheesed off with the movie." |
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What You'll Learn
'Cheesed off' means annoyed, not angry
"Cheesed off" is an idiom that means to be annoyed, but not angry. It is the equivalent of being "fed up" or "exasperated". The phrase is often used in British English and dates back to World War II. The first printed use of the phrase was in 1941, in a literary digest called Penguin New Writing. It was also used in a 1942 novel, The Nine Lives of Bill Nelson, which included the line, "Two people, both cheesed off, are better than one".
While the exact etymology of the phrase is unknown, it is speculated to have originated in the United Kingdom and is still used frequently there. In American English, the phrase "cheesed off" is less commonly used and may be considered old-fashioned or juvenile. Instead, Americans might say they are "pissed off" or "angry".
The phrase "cheesed off" is just one of many idioms in the English language that use food-related terms to express emotions. For example, feeling "annoyed" can also be expressed as being "peeved", which comes from the French word "piver", meaning "to prick". So, the next time you're feeling a little irritated, you might say you're "cheesed off", but remember that it's not quite the same as being angry!
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'Cheesed off' is a British expression
"Cheesed off" is indeed a British expression, dating back to World War II. It is used to express feelings of annoyance, frustration, or irritation, and is often used in a similar context to "fed up". While the exact etymology of the phrase is unknown, it was first printed in 1941 and has been used frequently in British culture since.
The phrase is typically used to describe someone who is feeling disgruntled or exasperated. For example, one might say, "I'm feeling cheesed off with the long commute to work every day". It conveys a sense of mild frustration or boredom rather than intense anger.
In the United States, the phrase "cheesed off" has been used occasionally, with one of the earliest examples appearing in a 1983 New York Times quote from Congressman Les Aspin: "Tempers are frayed—the boys are getting cheesed off". However, the usage and interpretation of this phrase differ slightly between the two countries. In the US, "cheesed off" can convey a stronger emotion of anger, whereas in the UK, it is more akin to being "fed up".
It is worth noting that there are other variations of the phrase, such as "browned off", which is also a British expression with similar meanings. These idiomatic expressions add colour and variety to the English language, offering unique ways to express emotions and experiences.
While some may consider the phrase "cheesed off" to be old-fashioned or juvenile, it remains a part of British slang and continues to be used, especially in conversational or informal contexts.
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The phrase was first used in 1941
The phrase "cheesed off" was first used in print in 1941, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It was included in a piece in the literary digest Penguin New Writing. The phrase is used to express being exasperated, fed up, disgruntled, or bored. It is a British phrase, and its earliest use in the US was in a 1983 New York Times quote from Congressman Les Aspin, who said, "Tempers are frayed — the boys are getting cheesed off."
The phrase is often used to describe someone who is annoyed or angry. In the UK, it is more commonly used to describe someone who is fed up, while "pissed off" is used to describe someone who is angry. There are also other variations of the phrase, such as "browned off," which is mentioned in a 1942 novel, The Nine Lives of Bill Nelson, and may be a precursor to "cheesed off."
The phrase "cheesed off" is still used frequently today, especially on social media platforms like Twitter. While the origin of the phrase is unknown, it is believed to have nothing to do with cheese, despite the word "cheese" being present in the phrase. Instead, it is simply a slang term used to express negative emotions.
Some people consider the phrase "cheesed off" to be juvenile and old-fashioned, preferring other phrases to express annoyance or anger. However, it continues to be a part of British and American slang and is recognised by dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster and Urban Dictionary.
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'Cheesed off' is not a great phrase to use
"Cheesed off" is an idiom that means to be annoyed, exasperated, fed up, disgruntled, or bored. The phrase is British in origin and dates back to World War II. While it is still used, particularly in British English, there are a few reasons why it may not be the best phrase to use.
First, the phrase may be considered old-fashioned or juvenile. It is not commonly used in modern conversation, and there are more contemporary ways to express annoyance or irritation. Second, the phrase may be unclear to those unfamiliar with it, leading to potential confusion or misunderstanding. Third, as with any slang or idiomatic expression, using "cheesed off" with people from different cultural backgrounds or generations may be inappropriate or unclear.
Additionally, the phrase may have negative connotations for some people, especially if they associate it with anger or irritation rather than annoyance. In American English, for example, the phrase "pissed off" is more commonly used to express anger, and "cheesed off" may be interpreted as a milder form of this phrase. However, in British English, "cheesed off" is more similar in meaning to "fed up," indicating a lesser degree of anger.
Finally, as language is constantly evolving, it is worth noting that newer, more expressive, or more precise phrases may have superseded "cheesed off." For example, instead of saying, "I was cheesed off with the movie," one could say, "I was annoyed by the movie," "I didn't enjoy the movie," or "the movie irritated me." These alternatives provide more context and specificity, conveying similar sentiments without relying on idiomatic expressions.
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'Cheesed off' is similar to 'browned off'
"Cheesed off" is a phrase that means to be annoyed, exasperated, fed up, disgruntled, or bored. It is a British expression, dating back to World War II, and is often used interchangeably with "pissed off", which is an American phrase with a similar meaning. However, some sources suggest that "cheesed off" is not as strong as "pissed off", with the former indicating annoyance rather than anger.
"Browned off" is another British expression with a similar meaning, also dating back to World War II. It is sometimes considered a precursor to "cheesed off", as the two phrases appeared together in a 1942 novel, "The Nine Lives of Bill Nelson": "Two people, both cheesed off, are better than one".
Both "cheesed off" and "browned off" are used to describe a feeling of frustration or dissatisfaction. They can be used interchangeably, although "cheesed off" may be more commonly used to describe a milder form of annoyance.
While the exact etymology of "cheesed off" is unknown, it is thought to be unrelated to cheese, despite some suggestions that the phrase could have an undiscovered origin connected to cheese. The first printed use of the phrase was in 1941, in a literary digest called "Penguin New Writing".
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Frequently asked questions
To be cheesed off means to be annoyed, exasperated, fed up, disgruntled, or bored.
No, while both expressions convey negative emotions, being pissed off means to be angry, whereas being cheesed off means to be annoyed.
The phrase "cheesed off" is British and was first used in print in 1941. It probably has nothing to do with cheese, despite what some may think.
