CHEEK by jowl

Insights

Intimate Companionship

The phrase signifies a state of intimate association or close partnership. It implies a level of familiarity and companionship where individuals are inseparable, as seen in the 1555 quote where riders travel 'cheke by cheke'.

Erosion of Social Hierarchy

It can symbolize a breakdown or disregard of social distinctions, where individuals of vastly different social ranks are placed in a position of uncomfortable equality. The 1655 quote of a 'Cobler' kneeling with a 'Count' perfectly illustrates this leveling effect.

Crowding and Disorder

The proverb can describe a state of being crammed or crowded together, suggesting a lack of order, personal space, or proper arrangement. It evokes a sense of either cozy clutter or chaotic disarray.

Direct Competition or Rivalry

In a competitive context, it can imply direct rivalry or audacious ambition. Sylvester's 1605 desire for his chariot to 'roule' 'Cheek by Joule With Phoebus' Chariot' uses the phrase to denote a bold challenge to a higher power.

Social Hierarchy and Proximity

The proverb's usage in historical texts, such as F. Hawkins' 1684 advice not to walk 'cheek by joul' with a person of 'great quality', reveals deep-seated anxieties about maintaining social hierarchy. The phrase powerfully captures the tension between physical closeness and the preservation of social distance and status.

Linguistic Evolution and Imagery

The phrase's endurance is owed to its visceral, bodily imagery. The term 'jowl' (jaw) is archaic, yet its combination with 'cheek' creates a powerful and immediate sense of physical closeness that transcends time. Variations like 'cheeke by gole' in the 17th century demonstrate its deep integration into vernacular speech.

Psychology of Personal Space

Psychologically, the proverb taps into the concept of proxemics, or personal space. Depending on the context, being 'cheek by jowl' can evoke feelings of comfort and intimacy (with a friend) or threat and impropriety (with a superior or stranger), highlighting the fluid interpretation of physical closeness.

Rhetorical Devices

Bodily Imagery

The phrase employs vivid, concrete bodily imagery (cheek, jowl) to create an immediate and universally understood picture of closeness, making the abstract concept of proximity tangible.

Alliteration and Consonance

The repetition of the hard 'k' sound in 'cheek' and the 'j' in 'jowl' (a similar palatal consonant) creates a rhythmic, memorable, and percussive effect that enhances its idiomatic quality.

Synecdoche

The parts of the body ('cheek', 'jowl') are used to represent the whole persons, efficiently conveying the idea of two individuals in their entirety being close together.