Generalized Cherenkov-like effects based on four fundamental interactions are investigated and classified. Two general Cherenkov-like coherence conditions are found as two natural limiting extremes of the same spontaneous particle emission process in nuclear media. Nuclear pionic and nuclear kaonic Cherenkov-like radiation (NPICR and NKCR) produced by high-energy nucleons passing through a nuclear medium are systematically studied using a quantum theoretical approach. The pion and kaon refractive indices, the pion and kaon phase velocities as well as the NPICR and NKCR thresholds are calculated via the Foldy-Lax multiple scattering formalism having as input the experimental data for the elementary pion-nucleon and kaon-nucleon forward scattering amplitudes. The differential cross sections, the angle-energy correlations, as well as some other essential signatures of coherent pion and kaon production via Cherenkov mechanism with high-energy proton beams are presented. Compressed nuclear media with densities up to five times normal nuclear matter density are taken into account.