English主要词典
cheap
Universal Words
adjective, adverb
adjective (cheaper, cheapest)
low price
1 costing little money or less money than you expected:
cheap fares * Personal computers are cheap and getting cheaper. * Cycling is a cheap way to get around. * A good education is not cheap. * (BrE) Calls cost 36p a minute cheap rate. * The printer isn't exactly cheap at ｣200. * immigrant workers, used as a source of cheap labour (= workers who are paid very little, especially unfairly)
seealsoDIRTCHEAP
2 charging low prices:
a cheap restaurant / hotel * a cheap taxi firm * (BrE) We found a cheap and cheerful cafe (= one that is simple and charges low prices but is pleasant). * Italy is a very cheap country to visit.
poor quality
3 (disapproving) low in price and quality:
cheap perfume / jewellery / shoes * (BrE) a cheap and nasty bottle of wine
unkind
4 unpleasant or unkind and rather obvious:
I was tired of his cheap jokes at my expense. * a comedian who is always looking for cheap laughs * to score a cheap political advantage
low status
5 (disapproving) having a low status and therefore not deserving respect:
He's just a cheap crook. * His treatment of her made her feel cheap (= ashamed, because she had lost her respect for herself).
not generous
6 (AmE) (BrE mean) (informal, disapproving) not liking to spend money:
Don't be so cheap!
cheapness noun [U]
IDIOMS
cheap at the price (BrE) (AmE cheap at twice the price) so good or useful that the cost does not seem too much:
To buy all the recommended equipment is expensive, but as an investment for the future it is cheap at the price.
on the cheap spending less money than you usually need to spend to do sth:
a guide to decorating your house on the cheap * to acquire valuable works of art on the cheap
moreatLIFE
adverb (comparative cheaper no superlative) (informal) for a low price:
I got this dress cheap in a sale.
IDIOMS
be going cheap to be offered for sale at a lower price than usual:
Look in the paper to see if there are any computers going cheap.
sth does not come cheap something is expensive:
Violins like this don't come cheap.
