cheek by jowl

Fig. side by side; close together. The pedestrians had to walk cheek by jowl along the narrow streets. The two families lived cheek by jowl in one house.

See also: cheek

cheek by jowl

very close together Business and residential buildings have been developed cheek by jowl in this city.

Etymology: based on the idea that the cheek and jowl (parts of the face) are very close to each other

See also: cheek

cheek by jowl

very close together

Usage notes: Jowl is a word for the loose flesh by the lower jaw, which is very close to the cheek.

The poor lived cheek by jowl in industrial mining towns in Victorian England.

See also: cheek

cheek by jowl

Side by side, close together, as in In that crowded subway car we stood cheek by jowl, virtually holding one another up. This term dates from the 16th century, when it replaced cheek by cheek.

See also: cheek

cheek by jowl

Side by side; close together.

See also: cheek

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
TÓNi	-	Hungarian
Eskarne	-	Basque
Ryuu	ṙyoo:	Japanese
Florry	-	Irish
Duygu	-	Turkish
Paora	-	Maori