cheap
♦♦ cheap /tʃ'iːp/ (cheaper cheapest)
1 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, ADJ n, v n ADJ
Goods or services that are cheap cost less money than usual or than you expected.
Smoke detectors are cheap and easy to put up...
Running costs are coming down because of cheaper fuel...
They served breakfast all day and sold it cheap.
≠ expensive, dear
● cheaply [ADV] ADV after v
It will produce electricity more cheaply than a nuclear plant.
● cheapness [N-UNCOUNT]
The cheapness and simplicity of the design makes it ideal for our task.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you describe goods as cheap, you mean they cost less money than similar products but their quality is poor.
Don't resort to cheap copies; save up for the real thing.
...a tight suit made of some cheap material.
= shoddy
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you describe someone's remarks or actions as cheap, you mean that they are unkindly or insincerely using a situation to benefit themselves or to harm someone else.
These tests will inevitably be used by politicians to make cheap political points.
4 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If you describe someone as cheap, you are criticizing them for being unwilling to spend money. (AM)
Oh, please, Dad, just this once don't be cheap.
= mean
5 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If someone does or buys something on the cheap, they spend less money than they should because they are more concerned with what it costs than with its quality. (INFORMAL)
Most modern housing estates are terrible and inevitably done on the cheap.cheap shot (cheap shots)
[N-COUNT]
A cheap shot is a comment someone makes which you think is unfair or unkind.
1 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, ADJ n, v n ADJ
Goods or services that are cheap cost less money than usual or than you expected.
Smoke detectors are cheap and easy to put up...
Running costs are coming down because of cheaper fuel...
They served breakfast all day and sold it cheap.
≠ expensive, dear
● cheaply [ADV] ADV after v
It will produce electricity more cheaply than a nuclear plant.
● cheapness [N-UNCOUNT]
The cheapness and simplicity of the design makes it ideal for our task.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you describe goods as cheap, you mean they cost less money than similar products but their quality is poor.
Don't resort to cheap copies; save up for the real thing.
...a tight suit made of some cheap material.
= shoddy
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you describe someone's remarks or actions as cheap, you mean that they are unkindly or insincerely using a situation to benefit themselves or to harm someone else.
These tests will inevitably be used by politicians to make cheap political points.
4 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If you describe someone as cheap, you are criticizing them for being unwilling to spend money. (AM)
Oh, please, Dad, just this once don't be cheap.
= mean
5 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If someone does or buys something on the cheap, they spend less money than they should because they are more concerned with what it costs than with its quality. (INFORMAL)
Most modern housing estates are terrible and inevitably done on the cheap.cheap shot (cheap shots)
[N-COUNT]
A cheap shot is a comment someone makes which you think is unfair or unkind.