cheap
cheap — adjective
1. not costing very much, especially when compared with the usual price for similar
not costing very much, especially when compared with the usual price for similar items
Aiko bought a cheap bicycle from her neighbor for just thirty dollars.
collocation: cheap + concrete noun (bicycle, ticket, meal)
The food at that market stall is fresh and very cheap.
coordinates adjectives after be: fresh and cheap
Diego found a cheap hotel room near the beach for the weekend.
This winter coat was so cheap that Leila bought two of them.
Cheap bus tickets are available if you book your trip early.
- inexpensive
more neutral and formal; does not imply low quality
- affordable
focuses on being within someone's budget, not on low price itself
- budget
used before nouns; suggests a deliberate choice to spend less
- low-cost
used especially for services, travel, or housing; neutral tone
用法筆記
When talking about expensive items like cars or houses, use affordable or reasonably priced instead of cheap, which can suggest poor quality.
常見錯誤
2. charging prices that are low, used to describe a shop, restaurant, hotel, or sim
charging prices that are low, used to describe a shop, restaurant, hotel, or similar place
The cafeteria near the office is cheap and always busy at lunchtime.
place as subject: be + cheap
Yara stays at a cheap hostel whenever she travels around Europe.
This restaurant is cheap enough for students on a small budget.
Hiro looked for a cheap barber shop that did a good haircut.
- budget
often used before nouns like budget hotel or budget airline
- inexpensive
more neutral and less common for places
- low-priced
describes the items sold rather than the establishment itself
用法筆記
This sense applies only to places where you pay for goods or services. It describes the business itself, not the individual items it sells.
3. made with such poor materials or workmanship that it barely works, yet costs ver
made with such poor materials or workmanship that it barely works, yet costs very little to buy
The toy broke within an hour because it was made of cheap plastic.
collocation: cheap + material (plastic, fabric, metal)
Nadia bought a cheap watch from a street seller, and it stopped after two days.
narrative: cheap + product + consequence
Cheap shoes may hurt your feet because the materials are not strong enough.
Rohan refused to use cheap tools after his hammer broke on the first day.
- shoddy
informal; made or done badly
- poor-quality
direct and clear; less informal
- flimsy
weak and easily broken, especially of materials
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (LOW PRICE): cheap in this sense always implies poor workmanship or materials, not just a low price. The item is not considered a good value.
常見錯誤
4. not willing to spend money on other people, even when you have enough
not willing to spend money on other people, even when you have enough
Tomás is so cheap that he never buys a drink for his friends.
so + cheap + that-clause (informal, disapproving)
The company was cheap and refused to pay for the staff Christmas party.
organization as subject: cheap about spending
My landlord is too cheap to fix the broken heater in the apartment.
Quinn was embarrassed when her date was too cheap to tip the waiter.
- generous
willing to give money or help freely
- open-handed
informal; generous with money
用法筆記
This sense is always disapproving. It is more informal than stingy or miserly but carries the same negative judgment about someone's unwillingness to share money.
5. slightly cruel and unpleasant, used especially about a remark or joke that is ea
slightly cruel and unpleasant, used especially about a remark or joke that is easy to make but hurtful to the person it targets
Greta made a cheap joke about her colleague's new haircut in front of everyone.
collocation: cheap joke / cheap remark
The comedian's cheap comments about the audience member felt mean.
Kofi regretted his cheap shot at his sister — easy to say but it hurt her.
The reporter's cheap question about the mayor's divorce embarrassed everyone in the room.
用法筆記
The most common fixed expression with this sense is a cheap shot — a comment that unfairly attacks someone's weakness. Also used in cheap joke, cheap remark, and cheap laugh.
6. of a person's clothing or appearance clearly intended to attract sexual attentio
of a person's clothing or appearance clearly intended to attract sexual attention, in a way that some people consider lacking good taste
Wen thought the actress looked cheap in that very short red dress.
pattern: look + cheap (about appearance)
Esme's mother told her the shiny gold top looked cheap for an interview.
register: informal, disapproving of clothing choice
Some people thought her outfit looked cheap, but she did not care about their opinions.
The magazine criticized the singer's cheap stage costume as trying too hard to impress.
用法筆記
This sense is old-fashioned and considered offensive by many people. It judges someone's character based on their clothing. Use with caution or avoid in neutral contexts.
cheap — adverb
1. for a low price; without spending very much money
for a low price; without spending very much money
Beatriz bought the painting cheap at a small gallery in Lisbon.
verb + cheap (bought cheap, got cheap)
To eat cheap in Tokyo, try the noodle shops near the train stations.
pattern: verb + cheap in [location]
The agent said we could fly cheap by booking three months early.
Zane managed to furnish his new apartment cheap by visiting second-hand shops.
- cheaply
more formal; works in any register
用法筆記
This adverb form is informal. In more formal writing, use cheaply (e.g., 'We ate cheaply at the market'). The adverb cheap cannot be used before verbs — only after them.