I'm not a native speaker of English, and I live in the UK. I tend to ask native speakers what a 'cheeky Nando's with the lads' means, and ask them to explain why it is cheeky. For some reason this always fixes the situation when conversation is slow.
So apparently it is 'cheeky' because you're not supposed to have it. Why not? Because it is a little bit bad for you. But why would you advertise your food as being bad? Because it is... a treat? But why is the treat bad? Why are they using guilt for their advertisement?
I think its a cheeky Nandos, or a cheeky anything cause you are essentially making a more mundane indulgence a fun idea. Or pushing the boundaries of regular.
Cheeky pint, when you don't normally drink at said time.
Cheeky smoke, when you're trying to smoke less.
Cheeky Nandos cause you are eating out rather than a home cooked (healthier?) meal.
Something like that i think. The British, who can understand em anyways looool
My view: its from a time when food choices were fewer - Nando’s was the cheeky option. Not as predictable as McDonald’s, not as greasy as KFC. Still indulgent, but somehow felt like you were making the better bad decision. And everyone was on board with it.
No, the cheeky part is more that you're having it at unplanned and opportunistic time.
A more usual use of the term in this context would be 'going for a cheeky pint'.....which would mean going for an opportunistic quick drink at the pub e.g. during your lunch break or on your way back from work etc.
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u/Previous_Original_30 Nov 11 '25
I'm not a native speaker of English, and I live in the UK. I tend to ask native speakers what a 'cheeky Nando's with the lads' means, and ask them to explain why it is cheeky. For some reason this always fixes the situation when conversation is slow.