Cheesiness

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Cheesiness is commonly understood to be a quality relating to foods and their associated gustatory sensations when wrapped in, filled with, smothered in, or flavored by cheese. Examples of such foods include cheese puffs, cheese popcorn, cheese balls, cheese soup, and fondue.

Cheesiness can be contrasted with cheeselessness, in which foods lacking cheese (such as cheeseless pizza) henceforth lack the associated textures, flavors, and aromas.

[edit] Alternate Meanings

In certain dominant dialects of American English, "cheesiness" is often used as a generic adjective describing objects or actions which are unattractive, kitsch, unpopular, or otherwise worthy of critical reassessment. For example:

- That embroidered reindeer sweater Bob wore to the prom was quite cheesy.

- Boy golly, Hendley wearing sideburns in 1985 was a cheesy move.

The etymology of this colloquial form is presently unknown but is frequently thought to be related to the noxious odor of certain pungent cheeses like Limburger cheese.

Used in the American colloquial sense, cheesiness can be related to and is sometimes synonymous with corniness and also lameness.