cheap, inexpensive

cheap, inexpensive
These words agree in their meaning of "low-cost" but differ in application. Cheap suggests inferiority, shoddiness, poor workmanship, small value: "This is a cheap piece of workmanship." "This coat was made with cheap fur." Inexpensive indicates "more expensive than cheap" and suggests that, although low in price, an inexpensive article is worth its cost: "She bought an inexpensive but attractive suit." "Jock purchased an inexpensive car whose value equaled its cost." In stores, merchants recognize the distinction between these words: they invariably refer to low-cost items as inexpensive, never as cheap.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • cheap — cheapish, adj. cheapishly, adv. cheaply, adv. cheapness, n. /cheep/, adj., cheaper, cheapest, adv., n. adj. 1. costing very little; relatively low in price; inexpensive: a cheap dress. 2. costing little labor or trouble: Words are cheap …   Universalium

  • cheap — [[t]tʃip[/t]] adj. er, est, adv. n. 1) costing very little; relatively low in price; inexpensive 2) charging low prices: a cheap store[/ex] 3) shoddy or inferior 4) costing little labor or trouble: Talk is cheap[/ex] 5) mean or contemptible: a… …   From formal English to slang

  • inexpensive — See cheap. See cheap, inexpensive …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • cheap — See cheap, inexpensive …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • cheap — [chēp] adj. [< good cheap, favorable bargain < ME god chep (used as transl. of OFr à bon marché) < OE ceap, a purchase, bargain, akin to Ger kaufen, to buy; ult. < L caupo, petty tradesman] 1. low in price or cost; not expensive 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • inexpensive — in‧ex‧pen‧sive [ˌɪnɪkˈspensɪv◂] adjective approving cheap: • a good selection of inexpensive wines * * * inexpensive UK US /ˌɪnɪkˈspensɪv/ adjective ► not costing much money: »The company began with inexpensive products but eventually moved into… …   Financial and business terms

  • cheap and cheerful — Inexpensive but practical or attractive • • • Main Entry: ↑cheap * * * cheap and cheerful british phrase not expensive and of reasonable quality It’s not the best place you’ll ever eat at, but it’s cheap and cheerful. Thesaurus: cheap and… …   Useful english dictionary

  • inexpensive — [adj] not high priced bargain, budget, buy, cheap, cost next to nothing*, cut rate, dime a dozen*, dirt cheap*, economical, for a song*, half price, low, low cost, low priced, marked down, modest, nominal, popular, popularly priced, real buy*,… …   New thesaurus

  • inexpensive — [in΄ek spen′siv, in΄ikspen′siv] adj. not expensive; costing relatively little; low priced; cheap SYN. CHEAP inexpensively adv. inexpensiveness n …   English World dictionary

  • cheap — [adj1] inexpensive at a bargain, bargain, bargain basement*, bargain counter, bought for a song*, budget, buy, cheapo*, competitive, cost next to nothing*, cut price, cut rate, depreciated, dime a dozen*, easy on the pocketbook*, economical, half …   New thesaurus

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