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Elite Edition

Why do people Say cheese when?

Author

Robert Bradley

Published Apr 01, 2026

Why do people Say cheese when?

Davies, an American lawyer and diplomat who served under Roosevelt, suggested this during a photoshoot on the set of the film adaptation of his book Mission to Moscow in 1943. While having his picture taken, he said the formula to taking a good picture was saying “cheese” as it creates an automatic smile.

What does it mean when someone says Say cheese?

—used by someone who is taking a photograph of a person and wants the subject to smile, since saying the word “cheese” in an exaggerated way, makes a person look like he or she is smiling “Say cheese, everyone!”.

When did people start saying Say cheese?

1940s
The idea of “cheesing” in photos first appeared around the 1940s. The Big Spring Herald, a local Texas newspaper, printed an article that referenced the phrase in 1943. While no one knows for certain who came up with it or why, most believe the word itself obliges you to smile.

Why do boys Say cheese?

“What do boys mean when they say ‘cheese it?’ ” “It means that something mischievous has a curd and they want to get a whey.” ‘Cheese’ was probably chosen because both the ‘ch’ and ‘ee’ sounds require a baring of the teeth, but then, so other words, like ‘each’ and ‘seas’.

Why do photographers say cheese?

The Origin of “Say Cheese” and When People Started Smiling in Photographs. The leading theory, however, as to the “why” of “say cheese” is that the “ch” sound causes one to position the teeth just so, and the long “ee” sound parts their lips, forming something close to a smile.

What’s the meaning of the saying Say Cheese?

“Say cheese” is an English-language instruction used by photographers who want their subject or subjects to smile. By saying “cheese”, most people form their mouths into what appears to be a smile-like shape. History

Why do People Say Cheese to make people smile?

A simple “cheese” spreads a smile across anyone’s face, and with a click of a button, that smile is captured for eternity. No one can say for sure who coined the phrase “say cheese” for use in getting people to smile, nor can we say with 100% certainty why that particular phrase was chosen as the smile spreader.

Why do People Say Cheese when taking pictures?

“Say cheese!” This simple command is meant to elicit a smile from potential photography subjects no matter what their age. It has become so commonplace that the word “say” is often no longer uttered.

Are there any other languages that Say Cheese?

Other languages have adopted this method, albeit with different words that sound similar to cheese to get the desired effect of shaping the mouth to form a smile. Argentina: ” whiskey ” (“whiskey”, pronounced to end with an ee sound.)

Why do I crave cheese all the time?

There is one more main reason that explains cravings. To recap, the two reasons behind cravings simply relate to your body’s need for fuel and energy: When you don’t eat enough, you run low on energy and your body naturally craves foods like cheese to replenish If you are low on fat, your body naturally craves food to get more fat

What does it mean when people say cheese?

Say cheese. By saying “cheese”, most people form their mouths into what appears to be a smile-like shape. As this practice became ingrained into modern western culture, it has taken on the simple role of a final warning before a photograph is taken. Often subjects will simply use the phrase “say cheese” as a cue to enter their final pose…

Why do people in Japan Say Cheese All the time?

Perhaps because of strong Western influence, especially in the realm of photography, and perhaps because of increased numbers of Western visitors after photographic equipment became widely available, “Say cheese” has also entered into the Japanese language. However, “say” is almost always dropped from the phrase, resulting in simply being “Cheese.”

What happens if you eat a lot of cheese?

If tyramine builds up it can cause blood pressure to rise to levels high enough to increase the risk of heart problems or stroke. The cheese reaction can prove fatal, so although this antidepressant is used less commonly now, people taking it are given strict warnings to avoid cheese and other foods, including cured or pickled products.