# Origin of the expression "to cut the cheese" to mean "to fart"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 3, 2003, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468 "2003-02-03T08:51:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2003, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/1 "2003-02-03T08:51:47Z")
My brother and I were teasing each other in the car today, and at one point, he mentioned that a particularly noxious ambient smell must have been because I cut the cheese. (of course, if wasn’t… probably some car gas or something) Our mom overheard this, and asked what that meant. (despite ALL the fart jokes running in the family for years now…) We told her, and she wanted to know the origins of that expression… of course, we had no clue. (she thought it must have originated with me… hey, I’m 26, but I’m sure it was around for longer than **that** , and I was sure not the originator of the expression, after all)
So does anyone have any ideas? Might tell my brother some of the things said in this thread… I’m not letting my mother know about this online activity!
F\_X
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### Author:  [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/2 "2003-02-03T08:57:12Z")
I’m sure it evolves from the pungent nature of a good old aged cheese. Or it could be a corruption evolving from a rather spreadable cheese called _Limburger_. When you get a chance, try to get hold of some Limburger. It literally smells like sh\*t. Tastes pretty good, however.
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### Author:  [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2003, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/3 "2003-02-03T09:00:55Z")
Have you never enjoyed some nice imported **stinky** cheese?
[sub] And where’s that Limburger I had around here?
oh, that’s me. sorry.[/sub]
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2003, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/4 "2003-02-03T09:03:17Z")
More speculation I’m afraid, but whole mature cheese in the rind doesn’t generally smell much until you cut into it.
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### Author:  [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2003, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/5 "2003-02-03T09:22:59Z")
A post in this [EZBoard thread on word origins](http://pub122.ezboard.com/fwordoriginsorgfrm6.showMessage?topicID=471.topic) has that the first instance of “cut the cheese” came from 1959 (so, no, **Flamsterette\_X** , you’re not to blame for this one!), with a “cheeser” being a “strong-smelling fart” from 1811 British usage.
Probably related to “cheesy socks” .
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### Author:  [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2003, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/6 "2003-02-03T10:13:22Z")
I remember first hearing it in the movie American Graffitti, circa 1972 or so.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/7 "2003-02-03T14:55:15Z")
My favorite use of the phrase was a radio ad for Dorman’s Cheese in the late 60s. IIRC, it was done by Dick (“Chickenman”) Orkin and Bert (“Tooth Fairy”) Berdis. They talked about going to a wedding where they served Dorman’s cheese instead of a wedding cake. And everyone there sang, “The bride cut the cheese, the bride cut the cheese.”
I couldn’t believe they let that one get by.
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### Author:  [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/8 "2003-02-04T01:17:30Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Darth Nader \*
> \*\*Have you never enjoyed some nice imported **stinky** cheese?
>
> [sub] And where’s that Limburger I had around here?
> oh, that’s me. sorry.[/sub] \*\*
No, but I **have** smelled stinky tofu… yuck.
Thanks for the answers, folks. 🙂
F\_X
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### Author:  [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/9 "2003-02-04T04:34:31Z")
I have pondered this question at some length.
Sponges have no intestines, and this is why you never hear anyone say “Awww, jeez, who cut the sponge???”
“Wasn’t me!”
“It must have been Dave.”
“No I didn’t”
At which point everyone agrees it must have been Dave, and the more Dave denies cutting the sponge, the less he is believed. This never happens, ergo, I concur with what someone else said, though I do not quite recall who said it, or what it was, or when. But it struck me as being correct, as compared to the other posts which seemed to be less correct.
Thus, I have spoken on this topic.
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### Author:  [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-expression-to-cut-the-cheese-to-mean-to-fart/152468/10 "2003-02-04T04:42:30Z")
I sspect it has something to do with the thick waxy skin some cheeses somestimes have to keep them fresh, thusly, they would have little odor untill cut open releasing a strong cheese smell.