What does 'cheeky' mean?

What it means: Slightly disrespectful or forward, but in a way that's playful rather than genuinely offensive. Cheekiness is audacity with charm.

"He asked the boss for a pay rise on his first day — cheeky."
"That's a bit cheeky, isn't it?" (said with a smile)

The tone: The key is that "cheeky" usually carries affection. Calling someone cheeky is often a compliment — you admire their nerve. It's very different from calling someone rude or disrespectful.

"A cheeky [noun]": A "cheeky pint," "cheeky Nando's," "cheeky nap" — informal British usage where "cheeky" means slightly indulgent or unplanned. "Shall we have a cheeky pint?" = let's be slightly naughty and have a drink.

Register: Informal British English. Very common and affectionate.

Tags: British English, personality, informal, slang