on the cheap

idiomatic phrase

: at minimum expense : cheaply
did the job on the cheap

Examples of on the cheap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The near halving in stock price might have investors wondering, is now the time to scoop up shares on the cheap? David Trainer, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025 With the market’s recent sell-off, UBS sees opportunities to snatch up good stocks on the cheap. Alex Harring, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025 Hard drives' big draw remains big capacity on the cheap. PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025 Although developers can buy the properties on the cheap, the lots often require sewer hookups and other upfront expenses that can add up and make their profit margins slim — even if the developers secure construction subsidies from the county or other sources. Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the cheap

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of on the cheap was in 1859

Cite this Entry

“On the cheap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20cheap. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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