cheat on
Definition
Verb: - To be sexually unfaithful to one's romantic partner, spouse, or someone with whom one is in a committed relationship. This involves engaging in a secret romantic or sexual relationship with another person.
Usage
This verb is used to describe the act of committing infidelity. It is a transitive verb phrase that requires an object (the person who is being betrayed). - The structure is: cheat on [someone]. - It is typically used in informal and formal contexts when discussing relationships and betrayal.
Examples
- She discovered he had been cheating on her for months.
- He vowed never to cheat on his partner again.
- There are rumors that the politician cheated on his wife.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can sometimes extend beyond sexual infidelity to imply a broader betrayal of trust or commitment in a relationship, though this is less common.
- Some fans felt the actor cheated on his genre by starring in a romantic comedy. (Figurative, implying betrayal of expectations).
Variants and Related Words
- Cheat (verb): While "cheat" alone can mean to act dishonestly (e.g., cheat on a test), in the context of relationships, "cheat on" is the standard and clearer phrase.
- Infidelity (noun): The state or action of being unfaithful.
- Adultery (noun): Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse. (A more formal, often legal, term).
Synonyms
- Be unfaithful to
- Betray
- Two-time (informal)
- Stray from
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Cheat on is itself a phrasal verb. Other phrasal verbs with "cheat" (like "cheat out of") relate to fraud or deception, not romantic infidelity.
Related Idioms
- Have an affair: To be involved in a secret romantic relationship, often implying it is extramarital.
- Play around (informal): To be sexually unfaithful.
- There were suspicions he was playing around.
Verb
-
be sexually unfaithful to one's partner in marriage
-
She cheats on her husband
-
Might her husband be wandering?
-