cheap
C1Informal to neutral; the adjective is highly common across all registers, while the verb and adverb uses are more informal.
Definition
Meaning
Low in price; costing little money.
Of low quality or value because of being produced or offered at low cost; also, used to describe someone or something considered stingy, contemptible, or of poor taste.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word's primary meaning is neutral (low cost), but it has a strong, common secondary meaning that is negative, implying poor quality or contemptibility (e.g., a cheap trick). This negative connotation is pervasive and context-dependent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The phrase 'on the cheap' is common in both, perhaps slightly more idiomatic in BrE. The verb 'to cheap out' is firmly AmE.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations for quality/character. 'Cheap' as a descriptor for an inexpensive item is neutral in both, but the potential for negative interpretation exists in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar high frequency. The adverbial form (e.g., 'I bought it cheap') is common in both but may be considered slightly more informal or colloquial in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
BE cheapFIND something cheapBUY something cheapSEEM/LOOK/SOUND cheapa cheap way to do somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the cheap”
- “cheap as chips”
- “cheap shot”
- “cheap thrill”
- “dirt cheap”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often neutral: 'cheap manufacturing costs,' 'cheap credit.' Can be negative: 'a cheap imitator.'
Academic
Used, but often with qualifying language to avoid the pejorative sense (e.g., 'less expensive alternatives').
Everyday
Very common for price ('a cheap meal') and frequently pejorative for quality/character ('That was a cheap thing to say').
Technical
Rare in formal technical writing; prefers precise terms like 'low-cost,' 'inexpensive,' 'economical.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He didn't want to cheap out on the materials for the new shed.
American English
- They cheaped out and didn't get the extended warranty.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The pen was very cheap.
- I bought a cheap T-shirt.
- Fruit is cheap in the summer.
- They're looking for a cheap flight to Spain.
- It's a cheap way to travel around the city.
- The furniture looks a bit cheap.
- The criticism felt like a cheap shot during the debate.
- He accused the government of using cheap labour.
- We decorated the flat on the cheap.
- The film relied on cheap sentimentality rather than genuine emotion.
- Politicians often resort to cheap rhetoric to win votes.
- She felt cheapened by the company's exploitative marketing tactics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHIP (sounds like cheap) – a single potato chip is a small, inexpensive item, and a bag of cheap chips might not be very good quality.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL WORTH/QUALITY IS MONETARY VALUE (e.g., 'cheap trick,' 'cheap shot' – actions of low moral 'value').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'дешёвый' as 'cheap' when referring to people or their actions, as this will imply they are contemptible, not just frugal. Use 'frugal' or 'economical' instead.
- Translating 'It was cheap' can be ambiguous. Specify: 'It was inexpensive' (neutral) vs. 'It was of poor quality' (negative).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cheap' to describe a person meaning 'frugal' (incorrectly negative).
- Overusing 'cheap' in formal writing where 'inexpensive' or 'low-cost' is preferable.
- Confusing 'cheap' (adj) with 'cheapen' (verb, meaning to degrade).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'cheap' used in a primarily negative sense, NOT related to price?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its primary meaning of 'low-cost' is neutral. However, it very easily acquires a negative connotation of poor quality or low worth, so context is crucial.
'Inexpensive' is almost always neutral and simply describes low cost. 'Cheap' can be neutral but carries a much higher risk of implying poor quality or being seen as informal/pejorative.
Yes, but informally, primarily in American English as 'cheap out' (meaning to choose a lower-cost, often inferior option to save money).
It's an idiom meaning 'in a way that costs as little money as possible,' often implying cutting corners. E.g., 'They renovated the kitchen on the cheap.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.