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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

Should followers of Jesus really turn the other cheek?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

“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

“The Bible teaches us to turn the other cheek - and I’ve got two,” said Democrat Shawn Wilson, when asked Tuesday about possible political attacks.

From Washington Times • Aug. 9, 2023

What muscles does that grace require, to turn the other cheek when both are burning?

From Washington Post • Jun. 12, 2019

Daddy’s always wanting me to turn the other cheek till I ain’t got another cheek to turn.

From "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome