1 C1 idiomatic slang
To withdraw from a dare or commitment out of cowardice or a desire to avoid embarrassment.
"He was going to ask her to dance, but at the last second he cheesed out and went back to his seat."
inseparable
cheese out
C1 slang inseparable intransitive
To withdraw from something or act in a cowardly or unimpressive way at a critical moment.
In plain English
To suddenly decide not to do something because you are scared or don't want to look bad, or to do something in a weak, unimpressive way.
What does "cheese out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Uncommon and regional slang. May overlap with 'cheese' as slang for something considered overly sentimental or low-quality. Not widely attested in formal dictionaries. Usage is inconsistent across regions.
Words that pair with "cheese out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
dare challenge moment confrontation opportunity
How to conjugate "cheese out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cheese out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cheeses out
he/she/it
Past simple
cheesed out
yesterday
Past participle
cheesed out
have + pp
-ing form
cheesing out
continuous
Hear "cheese out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cheese out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.