turn the other cheek

Verb

Meaning

turn the other cheek (third-person singular simple present turns the other cheek, present participle turning the other cheek, simple past and past participle turned the other cheek)

(idiomatic) To accept punishment or injury without retaliating.

Source: en.wiktionary.org

Antonyms

pay back eye for an eye

Examples

Turn the other cheek too often and you get a razor through it. John Lydon

[on reacting to racism] I don't wanna be the better person. I don't wanna rise above it. I do wanna sink down to their level. I am not gonna turn the other cheek. "I'mma gonna show you what cheek I'mma turn, OK!" Margaret Cho

It has never been my nature, I regret to admit to the House, to turn the other cheek. Denis Healey

It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek. Kenny Rogers

If someone humiliates and hurts us, it is difficult to give them a second chance and turn the other cheek. They might just take another swing at us, we are not ready for that kind of abuse. Who needs it? Michael Elmore-Meegan

The Sermon on the Mount-it never ends for you, does it? If somebody kicks your right buttock, turn the other cheek. James K. Morrow

Close letter words and terms

turn the frown upside down turn the knife turn the knife in the wound turn the other way turn the page turn the right way up again