I. cheap 1 S1 W2 /tʃiːp/ BrE AmE adjective ( comparative cheaper , superlative cheapest )
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: good cheap 'at a good price, cheaply' , from cheap 'trade, price' (11-18 centuries) , from Old English ceap ]
1 . LOW PRICE not at all expensive, or lower in price than you expected OPP expensive :
cheap rail fares
the cheapest TV on the market
Property is cheaper in Spain than here.
a cheap shop (=one that sells goods cheaply)
The equipment is relatively cheap and simple to use.
This coat was dirt cheap (= very cheap - an informal expression)
cheap and cheerful British English (=simple and not expensive, but of reasonable quality)
a cheap and cheerful Italian restaurant
2 . BAD QUALITY low in price and quality:
Cheap wine gives me a headache.
cheap jewellery
The furniture looked cheap and nasty.
a cheap imitation of the real thing
3 . NOT EXPENSIVE TO USE not costing much to use or to employ SYN inexpensive
cheap to run/use/maintain etc
Gas appliances are usually cheaper to run than electric ones.
For the employer, a part-time workforce means a cheap labour supply.
4 . NOT DESERVING RESPECT showing a lack of honesty, moral principles, or sincere feelings, so that you do not deserve respect:
She felt cheap and stupid, like a naughty child caught stealing.
You’re lying, aren’t you? You’re so cheap.
His remark was a cheap shot at short people.
another cheap political stunt
It was nothing but a cheap trick (=unkind trick) .
5 . NOT GENEROUS American English not liking to spend money SYN mean British English :
She’s too cheap to take a cab.
6 . cheap thrill excitement that does not take much effort to get:
Bella will sleep with anyone for a cheap thrill.
7 . life is cheap used to say that it is not important if people die
8 . cheap at the price/at any price British English , cheap at twice the price so good, useful, or desirable that the cost is not important
—cheaply adverb :
a cheaply furnished room
They lived as cheaply as possible.
—cheapness noun [uncountable] :
the relative cheapness of housing
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ cheap costing very little money, or less than you expected:
My shoes were really cheap – they only cost £25.
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The cheapest way to get to Chicago is to take the bus.
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cheap flights
▪ low low prices, rents, and fees do not cost a lot of money. Do not use cheap with these words:
Why is the share price so low?
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You could get equally good accommodation elsewhere at a lower rent.
▪ inexpensive especially written 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.
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a simple inexpensive meal
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a hotel that offers air-conditioned rooms at relatively inexpensive prices
▪ reasonable a reasonable price seems fair because it is not too high:
The restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices.
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Only £25 a night? That sounds reasonable.
▪ economical cheap because you do not need to use a lot of money or fuel:
an economical car
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It is usually more economical to buy in large quantities.
▪ affordable cheap enough for most people to be able to buy or pay for:
affordable housing
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Single mothers often have trouble finding affordable childcare.
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The shop sells designer fashions at affordable prices.
▪ competitive competitive prices and rates are as low as those charged by other shops or companies:
I think you’ll find our prices are extremely competitive.
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The hotel offers a high standard of service at very competitive rates.
▪ budget [only before noun] budget flights, airlines, hotels etc have specially low prices:
You can get a budget flight to Amsterdam for only £19.
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a list of budget hotels for under $50 a night
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budget accommodation for families with young children
▪ be good/great value to be worth at least the price you pay for it, so that you feel pleased and think you have spent your money well:
The meals at Charlie’s Pizza are really good value.
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The holiday is great value for money.
▪ be a bargain informal to be extremely cheap:
I got this shirt when I was in Indonesia. It was a real bargain.
■ COLLOCATIONS CHECK
▪ low price/cost/rent/fee/charge
▪ reasonable price/cost
▪ economical car/way/method
▪ affordable accommodation/housing/price
▪ competitive price/rate
▪ budget flight/airline/hotel/accommodation
II. cheap 2 BrE AmE adverb
at a low price:
Air fares to Africa don’t come cheap (=are expensive) .
I bought this house because it was going cheap (=selling for a lower price than usual) .
She used to get meat cheap at the butcher’s.
They’re selling linen off cheap in Lewis’s.
III. cheap 3 BrE AmE noun
on the cheap spending less money than is needed to do something properly:
A clean environment cannot be had on the cheap.
holidaying on the cheap