cheap
gb/t͡ʃˈip/ us/t͡ʃˈip/
A1
English
~ 1600
olcsó, gyenge minőségű, fukar, ízléstelen
A1
1
olcsó
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] is cheap
This shirt was really cheap at the market.
Ez az ing nagyon olcsó volt a piacon.
We found a cheap flight to Paris.
Olcsó repülőjegyet találtunk Párizsba.
The restaurant is cheap but the food is great.
It's hard to find cheap rent in the city.
They stayed in a cheap hotel near the airport.
Learner examples
The book is cheap.
A könyv olcsó.
This bag is cheap.
Ez a táska olcsó.
We ate at a cheap cafe.
The shoes are cheap.
I bought a cheap ticket.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cheap' with 'inexpensive'. While both mean low-priced, 'cheap' can also suggest poor quality, so be careful with tone.
Meaning
Low in price
Collocations
cheap price
|cheap goods
|cheap flight
|cheap hotel
|cheap ticket
Synonyms
inexpensive (More neutral or formal; lacks the possible negative connotation of 'cheap'.)
Antonyms
expensive (Means costing a lot of money, the opposite of low-priced.)
Themes
shopping
|daily life
|money
|finance
|daily_life
Definition
Not costing much money.
Costing a small amount of money compared to similar things.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is cheap
These shoes are cheap and fall apart quickly.
Ezek a cipők gyenge minőségűek, és hamar szétesnek.
The chair looks nice but feels cheap.
A szék jól néz ki, de gyenge minőségűnek hat.
He bought a cheap watch that stopped working after a week.
The apartment had cheap fixtures and thin walls.
Learner examples
My phone is cheap and breaks easily.
A telefonom gyenge minőségű, és könnyen elromlik.
The table is cheap and not strong.
Az asztal gyenge minőségű, és nem erős.
This bag looks cheap.
The toy is cheap and broke today.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'cheap' to mean low price without realizing it can sound insulting about quality.
Meaning
Poor in quality or value
Collocations
cheap material
|cheap furniture
|cheap product
|cheap imitation
Synonyms
shoddy (Stronger negative connotation; emphasizes poor workmanship.)
Antonyms
high-quality (Means well-made and durable, opposite of poorly made.)
Themes
evaluation
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Badly made or not good in quality.
Of poor quality or not well made, often because it was made to be inexpensive.
B1
INFORMAL
3
fukar
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is cheap
Don't be so cheap—buy her a gift!
Ne légy ilyen fukar — vegyél neki ajándékot!
He's too cheap to leave a tip.
Túl fukar ahhoz, hogy borravalót adjon.
My uncle is cheap and never offers to pay.
Learner examples
She is cheap and never buys coffee.
Fukar, és soha nem vesz kávét.
He is cheap with his money.
Fukar a pénzével.
My friend is cheap and doesn't share.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'cheap' meaning low price with this sense describing a person’s behavior. Context usually makes it clear.
Meaning
Unwilling to spend money
Collocations
cheap person
|cheap boss
Synonyms
stingy ('Stingy' is slightly more formal and often stronger in criticism.)
Antonyms
generous (Willing to give or spend freely, opposite of unwilling to spend.)
Themes
personality
|money
|finance
|relationships
Definition
Not wanting to spend money.
Unwilling to spend money; stingy.
B2
INFORMAL
4
olcsó
B2
ízléstelen
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is cheap
That was a cheap trick to win the game.
Olcsó trükk volt így megnyerni a játékot.
The ad felt cheap and offensive.
A reklám ízléstelennek és sértőnek hatott.
He made a cheap joke about her appearance.
Learner examples
The movie was cheap and not nice.
A film ízléstelen volt, és nem volt jó.
He told a cheap joke about her.
Olcsó viccet mondott róla.
It was a cheap way to win.
Meaning
Low moral standards or respectability
Collocations
cheap behavior
|cheap trick
Synonyms
tawdry (Suggests showy but of low moral or artistic value.)
Antonyms
respectable (Having good social or moral standards, opposite of vulgar or immoral.)
Themes
character
|judgment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not showing good taste or respect; low moral standards.
Showing a lack of moral integrity, taste, or respectability; vulgar or tawdry.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cheap
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈip/
US/t͡ʃˈip/
Syllables & stress
cheap (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cheap)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: cheap
- Comparative: cheaper
- Superlative: cheapest
Word family
Forms
cheaper
adjective
cheapest
adjective
Core family
cheaply
adverb
Related words
cheapness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
expensive
adjective A2
Advanced or less common
cheapen
verb
Expressions
as cheap as chips
1/ˈæz t͡ʃˈip ˈæz t͡ʃˈɪps/
idiom
informal
Very inexpensive (UK)
Very inexpensive; costing very little money (used in British English).
Examples
- These sandwiches are as cheap as chips at that cafe.
- Clothes there are as cheap as chips.
cheap shot
1/t͡ʃˈip ʃˈɑt/
idiom
informal
Unfair remark or attack
An unkind or unfair comment or action, often made when the other person cannot defend themselves.
Examples
- That comment about his family was a cheap shot.
- Criticizing her for that mistake was a cheap shot.
come cheap
1/kˈʌm t͡ʃˈip/
fixed phrase
Be obtained for little cost or effort
To be available for little money or with little effort.
Examples
- Good quality doesn't come cheap.
- Friendship like that doesn't come cheap.
on the cheap
1/ˈɔn ðə t͡ʃˈip/
fixed phrase
informal
At low cost
Doing something while spending very little money.
Examples
- They traveled through Europe on the cheap.
- We managed to renovate the kitchen on the cheap.
dirt cheap
1/dˈɚt t͡ʃˈip/
idiom
informal
Extremely inexpensive
Very, very cheap; costing almost nothing.
Examples
- These tickets were dirt cheap!
- The old car was dirt cheap but worked fine.
dirt cheap
2/dˈɚt t͡ʃˈip/
idiom
informal
extremely cheap in price
Very, very cheap; costing almost nothing.
Examples
- These tickets were dirt cheap, so I bought four of them.
- The hotel was dirt cheap, but it was clean and safe.
- You can get fresh fruit dirt cheap at the market near closing time.