Yes. It is informal and common in spoken English, reviews, and casual writing.

What is the difference between cheesy and corny?

Cheesy often sounds more fake or overdone. Corny usually means old-fashioned or too obvious.

Can cheesy be positive?

Sometimes. People may say something is cheesy in a playful, affectionate way.

Is cheesy used for food?

Yes, but usually it means containing a lot of cheese, not the slang meaning.

← Dictionary

cheesy

/ˈtʃiː.zi/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Cheesy means not sincere, not stylish, or too sentimental in a way that can seem silly. It is often used for jokes, lines, clothes, or music that feel cheap or overdone.

That joke was so cheesy.
He wore a cheesy party shirt.
The movie had a cheesy ending.

Adinary Nuance

Cheesy is less about quality alone and more about how something feels to other people. Compared with silly, it often means embarrassing or overdone, not just funny. Compared with tacky, cheesy usually suggests fake emotion or a cheap attempt to impress. Compared with corny, cheesy is often a little stronger and more playful in tone.

In other languages

Vietnamese: sến súa
Spanish: cursi
Chinese: 俗气
Japanese: 安っぽい
Korean: 촌스러운

Etymology

Cheesy comes from cheese, first used in English in the late 1800s. It later became slang for something fake, low-quality, or overly sentimental.

Common phrases

cheesy jokecheesy grincheesy musiccheesy lines

Synonyms

corny tacky kitschy trite

Related words

sappy lame sentimental fake

Frequently asked questions

Is cheesy informal?: Yes. It is informal and common in spoken English, reviews, and casual writing.
What is the difference between cheesy and corny?: Cheesy often sounds more fake or overdone. Corny usually means old-fashioned or too obvious.
Can cheesy be positive?: Sometimes. People may say something is cheesy in a playful, affectionate way.
Is cheesy used for food?: Yes, but usually it means containing a lot of cheese, not the slang meaning.