# cut the cheese

idiom

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

## Meaning

To fart loudly.

## Examples

- Someone in the back of the bus cut the cheese.
- My brother always laughs when he cuts the cheese.
- Do not cut the cheese while we are in the car.
- The dog looked guilty after he cut the cheese during the family dinner.
- You should probably open a window because the toddler just cut the cheese while playing on the rug.
- I tried to stay serious during the yoga class, but the person next to me suddenly cut the cheese.
- The quiet library became very awkward after a student accidentally cut the cheese during the final exam.
- In the crowded elevator, a businessman shifted uncomfortably, pretending not to notice who had cut the cheese.

## Origin

The idiom draws a comparison to the pungent aroma released by certain varieties of cheese when their rinds are breached. These rinds function as a seal for the various gases produced during the ripening process; consequently, the act of slicing into the cheese allows the concentrated odour to escape into the immediate environment. Under this analogy, the transition from a contained state to a public olfactory event is equated to flatulence.

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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.