on the cheap

phrase

: at minimum expense : cheaply

did the job on the cheap

Examples of on the cheap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of these workers sold their shares for pennies to a class of savvy entrepreneurs, who thus gained ownership of entire industries on the cheap. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

European sources said the EuroLeague’s new model mirrors an NBA Europe concept of converting shareholder clubs into permanent franchises and selling permanent franchise spots, but on the cheap. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 13 July 2026

Looking for something on the cheap end? — Alexa St. John, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026

The company’s first plant on Federal Way was designed on the cheap using a supermarket floor plan, outfitted with second‑hand equipment other chipmakers no longer wanted. — Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for on the cheap

• asleep
• upkeep
• beep
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• seep