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.
However, that shouldn’t be a hurdle for modern directors, especially with the rise in technology to make films on the cheap. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2025 For two, the implication of a lower net spend is that a club has needed to rid itself of its stars and find hidden gems on the cheap — that hasn’t been the case at the Etihad. Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025 Google managed it on the cheap, which is how the founders and early investors made so much money. Rich Karlgaard, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 The development ignited fears that competitive AI models could be built on the cheap and with less-powerful chips . Brian Evans, CNBC, 27 Jan. 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 31 Mar. 2025.

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