on the cheap

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on the cheap

1. (informal) Synonym of cheaply or economically.
   • 2023 July 21, Billie Schwab Dunn, “I Tried Wetherspoons Food for the First Time-I Feared I'd Get Scurvy...”, in Daily Star:

     Would I take someone here for a first date? No. Would I go here for a cheap bite? Also no, but would I go here to get drunk on the cheap? Absolutely.

2. (informal) Too cheaply or economically, inexpensive and affordable to the point of substandard quality.

   Well, if you buy things on the cheap what do you expect?

• “on the cheap” (US) / “on the cheap” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.
• “on the cheap”, in Collins English Dictionary.