# cheese tax

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cheese-tax
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A portion of cheese given to a domestic animal such as a dog or cat, usually when the cheese is being brought out or prepared for human consumption.

## Examples

- My dog always waits for his cheese tax when I open the fridge.
- Every time I unwrap a slice of cheddar, my cat appears instantly to demand her cheese tax.
- The golden retriever sat patiently by the counter, fully aware that the preparation of a sandwich necessitated the payment of a cheese tax.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.