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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Any interest in dealing Reddick on the cheap, too? Want more Broncos news? Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2024 Read on for TVs, speakers, cameras, and more tech on the cheap. K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 27 Sep. 2024 The club squeaked into the postseason on the cheap. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 9 Oct. 2024 Ditch that sluggish laptop and upgrade to a desktop on the cheap. Jade Chung-Lee, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near on the cheap

Cite this Entry

“On the cheap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20cheap. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!