INDEX:
1. not costing much money
2. cheap but bad in quality
3. when you get something for a good price
4. not too expensive when compared to other prices
5. very cheap
6. to reduce the price of something
7. when the price has been reduced
8. to persuade someone to reduce the price of something
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ EXPENSIVE
see also
↑ COST
↑ BUY
↑ PAY
↑ REDUCE
↑ SPEND MONEY OR TIME
↑ SHOP/STORE
↑ FREE
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1. not costing much money
▷ cheap /tʃiːp/ [adjective]
something that is cheap costs very little money, or costs less than you expected :
▪ My shoes were really cheap - they only cost $15.
▪ The cheapest way to get to Chicago is to take the bus.
it is cheap to do something
▪ It’s cheaper to phone after six o'clock.
relatively cheap
cheap compared with other things
▪ Wooden houses are relatively cheap to build.
cheaply [adverb]
▪ You can buy electronic diaries fairly cheaply nowadays.
▷ inexpensive /ˌɪnɪkˈspensɪv◂/ [adjective]
not expensive - use this especially about things that are of good quality, even though they do not cost a lot :
▪ The furniture is inexpensive but well-made.
▪ a simple, inexpensive meal
▪ Beans and lentils are an inexpensive source of protein.
relatively inexpensive
not expensive compared to something similar
▪ a hotel that offers air-conditioned rooms at relatively inexpensive prices
▷ not cost much /nɒt ˈkɒst ˌmʌtʃǁ-ˈkɔːst-/ [verb phrase not in progressive] especially spoken
to not be expensive :
▪ We stayed in a very nice hotel in Vienna and it didn’t cost much.
it doesn’t cost much to do something
▪ It doesn’t cost much to rent an apartment here.
▷ economical /ˌekəˈnɒmɪk ə l◂, ˌiː-ǁ-ˈnɑː-/ [adjective]
cheap to use or cheap to do - use this about cars, machines, or ways of doing things that do not waste money, fuel etc :
▪ We have a very economical heating system, so the bills aren’t too high.
be economical to use/run/operate
▪ This is a well-designed car that is also very economical to run.
it is more economical to do something
▪ It’s more economical to buy the big packet - it’s only 50p more than the small one.
▷ affordable /əˈfɔːʳdəb ə l/ [adjective usually before noun]
cheap enough for most people to be able to buy :
▪ Single mothers often have trouble finding affordable child care.
▪ We have a vast range of cars to choose from at affordable prices.
▷ low-cost /ˌləʊ ˈkɒst◂ǁ-ˈkɔːst◂/ [adjective only before noun]
low-cost housing/heating/transport etc
intended to be cheap to use, buy, rent etc :
▪ If you want low-cost transport and regular exercise, a bike is ideal.
▪ If elected, he promised to build more low-cost housing in the city.
▪ The US is giving low-cost loans to help under-developed countries in the region.
▷ be low in price /biː ˌləʊ ɪn ˈpraɪs/ [verb phrase] especially written
if a product is low in price, it is cheap to buy :
▪ Nikon’s latest camera is low in price and easy to use.
▪ The ‘Pocket-Pack’ range of toys are very low in price and will provide hours of pleasure for the kids.
▷ low-budget /ˌləʊ ˈbʌdʒə̇t◂/ [adjective only before noun]
low-budget film/movie/ production etc
one that has been made very cheaply :
▪ My first acting job was in a low-budget horror movie with a terrible plot.
▷ budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt, ˈbʌdʒət/ [adjective only before noun]
budget hotel/flight/accommodation etc
budget hotels, flights etc are very low in price :
▪ The Tourist Information Office will give you a list of budget hotels in the area.
▷ it won’t break the bank /ɪt ˌwəʊnt breɪk ðə ˈbæŋk/ spoken
use this to say that you have enough money to buy or do something, and you should buy or do it :
▪ ‘I’m not sure if I should buy this suit.’ ‘Come on! It won’t break the bank!’
without breaking the bank
without having to pay a lot of money
▪ This guide lists 900 of the best places in which to eat without breaking the bank.
2. cheap but bad in quality
▷ cheap /tʃiːp/ [adjective usually before noun]
something that is cheap does not cost much, and is clearly of bad quality :
▪ The tourist shops were full of cheap souvenirs.
▪ The hotel room was very small, with cheap furniture and a bumpy bed.
▪ Oh look -- a present from Rob. I bet it’s another bottle of cheap perfume.
▷ cheap and nasty /ˌtʃiːp ən ˈnɑːstiǁ-ˈnæs-/ [adjective phrase not before noun] British
furniture, jewellery, or clothes that are cheap and nasty look cheap and of very bad quality :
▪ What do you think of these bracelets? They look really cheap and nasty to me.
▪ I don’t like plastic shoes. They always seem cheap and nasty.
3. when you get something for a good price
▷ be good value /biː ˌgʊd ˈvæljuː/ [verb phrase]
to be worth the price that you pay, especially a price that is not high :
▪ The meals at Charlie’s Pizza are really good value.
be a good value
American
▪ The CD-ROM encyclopedia is a good value because the printed encyclopedia set sells for twice as much.
▷ value for money /ˌvæljuː fəʳ ˈmʌni/ [noun phrase] especially British
if something that is being sold is value for money, it is worth the price that you pay - use this about something that is fairly cheap but is of a reasonable standard or quality :
be (good) value for money
▪ Sainsbury’s cookbooks are generally considered to be value for money.
▪ There’s a special ticket that means you can see six concerts, which is definitely good value for money.
get value for money
get something that is worth the price you paid
▪ The show was less than one hour long and we didn’t really get value for money.
▷ be a good buy /biː ə ˌgʊd ˈbaɪ/ [verb phrase]
something that is a good buy is worth the price you pay for it, because it is not expensive but is still good :
▪ The Brazilian white wine is a good buy at only $2.99 a bottle.
▪ College officials insist that higher education is a good buy despite rising tuition costs.
▷ a good deal /ə ˌgʊd ˈdiːl/ [noun phrase]
if something is a good deal, it is worth the price you pay, because it includes a lot of additional things or services :
be a good/excellent/great etc deal
▪ The price of the holiday includes free use of the tennis courts, the pool, and the gym. It’s a very good deal.
give somebody a good deal
▪ They gave me a really good deal on my camera.
get a good deal
▪ Cowpland said he was willing to buy the company if he got a good deal.
▷ bargain /ˈbɑːʳgɪn, ˈbɑːʳgən/ [countable noun]
something that costs a lot less than you expect or a lot less than it usually costs :
▪ Did you get any bargains at the market?
▪ I got this shirt when I was in Indonesia. It was a real bargain.
4. not too expensive when compared to other prices
▷ reasonable /ˈriːz ə nəb ə l/ [adjective]
reasonable prices seem fair because they are not too high :
▪ They sell good-quality computer equipment at reasonable prices.
▪ Only £15 a night? That sounds reasonable.
▷ competitive /kəmˈpetɪtɪv, kəmˈpetətɪv/ [adjective]
as low as or lower than the prices charged by other shops or companies :
▪ I think you’ll find our prices are extremely competitive.
▪ The hotel offers a high standard of service at very competitive rates.
competitively priced /kəmˌpetɪtɪvli ˈpraɪst, kəmˌpetətɪvli ˈpraɪst/ [adjective phrase]
▪ Call this number for our free catalogue of competitively priced software.
5. very cheap
▷ dirt cheap /ˌdɜːʳt ˈtʃiːp◂/ [adjective not before noun] informal
extremely cheap :
▪ You can get beautiful leather jackets in the markets and they’re dirt cheap.
dirt cheap [adverb]
▪ She buys all her clothes dirt cheap in charity shops.
▷ be a snip /biː ə ˈsnɪp/ British informal /be a steal /biː ə ˈstiːl/ American informal [verb phrase]
to be extremely cheap at a particular price :
▪ She says her new outfit was a steal.
▪ The new computer package is a snip at only £599 plus tax.
▷ at rockbottom prices /ət ˌrɒkbɒtəm ˈpraɪsə̇zǁˌrɑːkbɑː-/ also at giveaway prices /ət ˈgɪvəweɪ ˌpraɪsə̇z/ British [adverb]
if a shop is selling goods at rockbottom prices or at giveaway prices, it is selling them at extremely low prices -- used especially in advertisements :
▪ Fox Hi-Fi specialize in selling top quality CD players at rockbottom prices.
▪ In our summer sale, we have clothes from top designers at giveaway prices.
▷ for very little money /fəʳ ˌveri lɪtl ˈmʌni/ [adverb]
▪ You can pick up video recorders for very little money if you know where to look.
▷ for nothing /fəʳ ˈnʌθɪŋ/ [adverb] especially American
very cheaply :
▪ We got the car for nothing because the woman wanted to get rid of it fast.
6. to reduce the price of something
▷ reduce/cut /rɪˈdjuːsǁrɪˈduːs, kʌt/ [transitive verb]
to make prices, charges etc lower :
▪ There is a lot of pressure on electricity companies to reduce their prices.
▪ The company needs to cut costs drastically if it’s going to survive.
▪ Unless they can reduce their prices, they will soon be unable to compete on the American market.
reduce something by 10%/£20 etc
▪ Continental Airlines are to reduce fares by up to 10% in some areas.
reduction/cut /rɪˈdʌkʃ ə n, kʌt/ [countable noun]
▪ If there was a reduction in fares more people would ride the train to work.
▪ Further cuts in oil prices seem unlikely.
▷ knock £1/$20/20p etc off /ˌnɒk ə ˌpaʊnd ˈɒf ǁ ˌnɑːk-/ [transitive phrasal verb] informal
to reduce the price of something that you are selling :
▪ I expect if you ask him he’ll knock a couple of pounds off.
▪ Knock fifty bucks off and I’ll buy it.
▷ be marked down /biː ˌmɑːʳkt ˈdaʊn/ [verb phrase]
to be reduced in price -- use this about goods in shops :
▪ Their prices are usually marked down after Christmas.
▪ To celebrate the store’s 100th anniversary, all merchandise has been marked down by 20 percent.
▷ slash /slæʃ/ [transitive verb]
to reduce the price of something by a very large amount - used especially in news reports and advertisements :
▪ Sony has slashed the price of its new CD player, the D50.
▪ Final Sale. All prices slashed. Everything must go!
slash something by 50%/£50/$100 etc
▪ British Airways have slashed fares by over 50%.
7. when the price has been reduced
▷ sale /seɪl/ [countable noun]
a time when a shop sells things more cheaply than usual :
▪ There’s going to be a sale at Macy’s next week.
▪ Amelia bought her jacket at a sale for twenty dollars.
have a sale
▪ The bookstore across the street is having a sale.
the sales
British when a lot of shops sell things at reduced prices
▪ I got this coat for half price in the January sales.
▷ on sale /ɒn ˈseɪl/ American /in the sales /ɪn ðə ˈseɪlz/ British [adverb]
something that is on sale is being sold at a specially low price in a shop :
▪ ‘How much was your jacket?’ ‘I got it on sale in Montgomery Wards. It only cost $45.’
▪ His suit was bought in the sales for £100.
go on sale
▪ I need a new pair of shoes but I want to wait until they go on sale.
▷ reduced /rɪˈdjuːstǁ-ˈduːst/ [adjective not before noun]
goods that are reduced are being sold at a lower price than usual :
▪ Everything is reduced because the store’s closing down next month.
reduced from ... to ...
▪ The CDs were reduced from $10 to $5.
▷ £1/$20/10% etc off /ə ˌpaʊnd ˈɒf/ [noun phrase]
if there is £1, $20, 10% etc off something, its usual price has been reduced by that amount :
▪ 20% off all computers in Dixon’s summer sale
▪ We got $10 off the chair because it had a small mark on it.
▷ discount /ˈdɪskaʊnt/ [countable noun]
a reduction in the price you pay for something, which is given for a special reason :
get a discount
pay less
▪ Do you get a discount if you pay in cash?
discount on
▪ Workers at the store get a discount on books and records.
30%/£50 etc discount
▪ There’s a 30% discount on all electrical goods.
at a discount
at a reduced price
▪ Air UK are currently offering tickets to students at a special discount.
▷ special offer /ˌspeʃ ə l ˈɒfəʳǁ-ˈɔːf-/ [countable noun]
a very low price that a shop sells something for, in order to persuade more people to buy things there :
▪ They’ve got a special offer for seniors -- five nights for the price of three.
▪ Take advantage of our special offer between now and Oct 30 this year.
▷ cut-price /ˌkʌt ˈpraɪs◂/ [adjective only before noun]
cut-price goods or services are sold at prices that are much lower than the usual price, either because they have been specially reduced or because they are being sold by someone who always sells things cheaply :
▪ Tottenham Court Road is the best place for cut-price stereo equipment.
▪ Fruit is fairly inexpensive in Japan because they buy cut-price oranges and apples from South Africa.
▷ be going cheap /biː ˌgəʊɪŋ ˈtʃiːp/ [verb phrase] spoken
if something is going cheap, it is being sold more cheaply than usual :
▪ If they have any bicycle lamps going cheap, can you get me one?
▪ Have a look in the travel agent’s and see if there are any flights to Toronto going cheap.
▷ special /ˈspeʃ ə l/ [countable noun]
a product that is sold at a low price for a short time -- used especially about food, drink, or meals :
▪ Today’s lunch special is smoked salmon with rice.
on special
American being sold as a special
▪ We have Bud beer 6-packs on special at $5.
8. to persuade someone to reduce the price of something
▷ haggle /ˈhæg ə l/ [intransitive verb]
to try to persuade someone to reduce the price of something by arguing with them about what it is worth :
▪ If you go to a street market, you’d better be prepared to haggle.
haggle over something
▪ The passenger haggled over the fare before she got into the taxi.
haggle with somebody
▪ My mother used to spend hours haggling with the market traders.
▷ bargain with /ˈbɑːʳgɪn wɪð, ˈbɑːʳgən wɪð/ [verb phrase not in passive]
to try to persuade someone to reduce the price of something by discussing it with them :
▪ She bargained with the woman who was selling the plates and managed to get them for half the usual price.
▷ beat somebody down /ˌbiːt somebody ˈdaʊn/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to persuade someone to reduce the price of something by arguing with them about it :
beat somebody down to $50/£20 etc
▪ The owners originally wanted $1000 for the horse, but George managed to beat them down to $850.
beat somebody down
▪ I beat him down and got the bracelet for $2.