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Idioms are special phrases that mean something different from the literal words inside them. People use them to make conversation more colorful and expressive when talking about money, bargains, and low costs. In this article, you will learn fifty interesting idioms related to being cheap, saving money, and low-priced items.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean spending very little money, finding a bargain, or being stingy. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Cheap
1. Cost a mere song
Definition: To be extremely inexpensive or cheap to buy.
Used in a Sentence: I bought this vintage jacket at the flea market; it cost a mere song. / The old books at the library sale cost a mere song.
Similar Expressions: Very cheap / Inexpensive
2. Dirt cheap
Definition: Extremely low in price; costing almost nothing.
Used in a Sentence: During the end-of-season clearance, winter coats were marked down to dirt cheap. / Fresh fruit at the local farm market is surprisingly dirt cheap.
Similar Expressions: Inexpensive / Bargain-priced
3. Penny-wise and pound-foolish
Definition: Being extremely careful and cheap about small amounts of money while wasting large amounts elsewhere.
Used in a Sentence: Saving a dollar on cheap tires only to ruin your car is being penny-wise and pound-foolish. / She walked two miles to save fifty cents on coffee, then spent twenty dollars on a cab ride home, which was very penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Similar Expressions: Frugal on trifles / Wasteful on big things
4. Pinch pennies
Definition: To be extremely careful with money and spend as little as possible.
Used in a Sentence: While saving up for college, he had to pinch pennies every single week. / They pinched pennies for months to afford their family vacation.
Similar Expressions: Budget tightly / Save money
5. Skin flint
Definition: A person who is extremely unwilling to spend money and hates parting with cash.
Used in a Sentence: My uncle is such a skinflint that he never tips delivery drivers. / Do not expect a large donation from that skinflint.
Similar Expressions: Miser / Cheapskate
6. Tight-fisted
Definition: Unwilling to spend money; extremely miserly or stingy.
Used in a Sentence: The theater owner was too tight-fisted to upgrade the broken popcorn machine. / He is famously tight-fisted when it comes to paying for group dinners.
Similar Expressions: Stingy / Miserly
7. Close with your money
Definition: Being reluctant to spend money or give anything away.
Used in a Sentence: Even though he has a good job, he is very close with his money. / She has always been close with her money since she was a teenager.
Similar Expressions: Frugal / Stingy
8. A steal
Definition: An item priced so low that it feels like you are getting it for free.
Used in a Sentence: Getting a brand-new bicycle for twenty dollars at the garage sale was an absolute steal. / That sweater is marked down seventy percent; it is a total steal.
Similar Expressions: Bargain / Great deal
9. For a song
Definition: Bought or sold very cheaply.
Used in a Sentence: He sold his old piano for a song just to clear out space in the living room. / She managed to buy a gorgeous antique desk for a song at the estate sale.
Similar Expressions: Cheaply / For next to nothing
10. For next to nothing
Definition: Costing almost no money at all.
Used in a Sentence: We rented a lovely little beach cottage off-season for next to nothing. / You can buy these plastic toys for next to nothing at the discount store.
Similar Expressions: Very cheap / Inexpensive
11. Cheap as chips
Definition: Very inexpensive indeed.
Used in a Sentence: Fish and chips down by the pier are delicious and cheap as chips. / Those notebooks are cheap as chips at the back-to-school sale.
Similar Expressions: Very cheap / Affordable
12. Dime a dozen
Definition: So common and inexpensive that they have very little special value.
Used in a Sentence: Plastic pens like these are a dime a dozen in the supply closet. / Cheap plastic toys at the carnival are a dime a dozen.
Similar Expressions: Common / Plentiful and cheap
13. Cut corners
Definition: To do something the cheapest or easiest way, often sacrificing quality.
Used in a Sentence: The builder tried to cut corners by using cheap wood on the porch steps. / Never cut corners when it comes to safety equipment.
Similar Expressions: Save money unethically / Do a shoddy job
14. Watch your pennies
Definition: To be careful about minor expenses and try to save cash.
Used in a Sentence: Living on a fixed income means you always have to watch your pennies. / She watched her pennies closely while shopping for groceries.
Similar Expressions: Budget / Save
15. Count every penny
Definition: To be hyper-aware of every cent spent because money is very tight.
Used in a Sentence: During his first year living alone, he had to count every penny to pay rent. / She counts every penny before buying clothes.
Similar Expressions: Live frugally / Budget strictly
16. Tighten your belt
Definition: To cut back on spending and live more cheaply during tough financial times.
Used in a Sentence: When the factory closed, the family had to tighten their belt and stop eating out. / We need to tighten our belts until the new project starts.
Similar Expressions: Cut expenses / Spend less
17. Live on a shoestring
Definition: To live on an extremely small budget with very little money.
Used in a Sentence: As a starving artist in Paris, he lived on a shoestring for two years. / College students often have to live on a shoestring budget.
Similar Expressions: Live cheaply / Manage on little
18. Keep costs down
Definition: To spend as little money as possible on a project or business.
Used in a Sentence: The club tried to keep costs down by using recycled decorations for the dance. / We shopped around to keep costs down for the party.
Similar Expressions: Save money / Reduce expenses
19. Bottom dollar
Definition: Your absolute last bit of money.
Used in a Sentence: He spent his bottom dollar on a ticket to the championship game. / I would bet my bottom dollar that she wins the science fair.
Similar Expressions: Last cent / Entire savings
20. Not worth a plugged nickel
Definition: Completely worthless; not worth spending even a tiny amount of money on.
Used in a Sentence: That broken toy car is not worth a plugged nickel. / The old calculator was completely rusted and not worth a plugged nickel.
Similar Expressions: Worthless / Valueless
21. Not worth a bean
Definition: Having no value or cost whatsoever.
Used in a Sentence: His promise to help clean up the garage was not worth a bean when he walked away. / That broken gadget isn’t worth a bean.
Similar Expressions: Worthless / Useless
22. Cheapskate
Definition: A derogatory term for someone who hates spending money.
Used in a Sentence: He is such a cheapskate that he brings his own tap water to restaurants. / Don’t be a cheapskate and chip in for the pizza.
Similar Expressions: Miser / Stingy person
23. Pay peanuts
Definition: To pay employees or sellers an extremely small, cheap amount of money.
Used in a Sentence: That company expects workers to pull long shifts but pays them peanuts. / If you buy discount paint, you pay peanuts and get poor coverage.
Similar Expressions: Pay poorly / Low wages
24. Work for peanuts
Definition: To do a job for very little pay.
Used in a Sentence: When he first started illustrating books, he worked for peanuts just to build a portfolio. / She refused to work for peanuts at the local café.
Similar Expressions: Underpaid / Cheap labor
25. Ride for a song
Definition: To travel somewhere very cheaply.
Used in a Sentence: We caught a clearance bus ticket and rode across the state for a song. / Train tickets were discounted so we could ride for a song.
Similar Expressions: Travel cheaply / Inexpensive trip
26. Buy wholesale, sell retail
Definition: A business approach to buying cheap and selling for a profit.
Used in a Sentence: The merchant made his fortune by buying wholesale and selling retail. / Thrift store flipping is all about buying cheap items and reselling them.
Similar Expressions: Profit margins / Commerce
27. Knockdown price
Definition: An unusually cheap or heavily discounted price.
Used in a Sentence: The store owner sold the floor model television at a knockdown price. / We bought the furniture at a knockdown price during the going-out-of-business sale.
Similar Expressions: Rock-bottom price / Huge discount
28. Rock-bottom price
Definition: The absolute lowest price something can possibly cost.
Used in a Sentence: I waited for the post-holiday sale to buy the decorations at a rock-bottom price. / The car dealer offered a rock-bottom price to clear the lot.
Similar Expressions: Lowest price / Maximum discount
29. Fire sale
Definition: A sale of goods at extremely low, cheap prices, originally to clear items damaged by fire or emergency.
Used in a Sentence: The failing electronics shop held a massive fire sale to clear its inventory. / Tickets for the canceled concert were sold in a fire sale.
Similar Expressions: Liquidation sale / Clearance
30. Blowout sale
Definition: A massive sale featuring very cheap items.
Used in a Sentence: The sporting goods store advertised an end-of-summer blowout sale. / We found running shoes at the warehouse blowout sale.
Similar Expressions: Giant sale / Clearance event
31. Bargain basement
Definition: The lowest level of a store where cheap, discounted goods are sold, or metaphorically very low-cost.
Used in a Sentence: He bought his winter boots down in the bargain basement. / Her fashion standards were straight out of the bargain basement.
Similar Expressions: Discount section / Ultra-cheap
32. Penny pinching
Definition: The act of being overly frugal and stingy with money.
Used in a Sentence: After months of penny-pinching, they finally saved enough for a new computer. / Her constant penny-pinching made dining out quite difficult.
Similar Expressions: Frugality / Budgeting strictly
33. Scrimp and save
Definition: To save money by living as cheaply and sparingly as possible.
Used in a Sentence: They had to scrimp and save for years to put a down payment on a house. / By scrimping and saving, she managed to buy her first car.
Similar Expressions: Save diligently / Live frugally
34. Cut your coat according to your cloth
Definition: To live within your financial means and spend only what you can afford.
Used in a Sentence: Since our budget is smaller this year, we must cut our coat according to our cloth. / Stop buying luxuries and learn to cut your coat according to your cloth.
Similar Expressions: Live within budget / Spend wisely
35. Tight budget
Definition: A financial plan that allows for very little spending or luxury.
Used in a Sentence: We are operating on a tight budget for our school club this semester. / Planning a wedding on a tight budget requires creativity.
Similar Expressions: Limited funds / Cheap plan
36. Economy model
Definition: The cheapest version of a product with basic features.
Used in a Sentence: We bought the economy model washing machine to save money. / The economy model car lacks fancy heated seats, but it runs well.
Similar Expressions: Base model / Budget version
37. Budget-friendly
Definition: Designed or priced to be cheap and affordable for everyday buyers.
Used in a Sentence: The cookbook offers dozens of budget-friendly meal ideas for families. / We found a cozy, budget-friendly hotel near the train station.
Similar Expressions: Affordable / Inexpensive
38. Watch your wallet
Definition: To be careful with how much money you spend in a given situation.
Used in a Sentence: Amusement parks are fun, but you need to watch your wallet with food prices. / Watch your wallet when shopping at the tourist market.
Similar Expressions: Be careful with money / Spend cautiously
39. Freebie
Definition: Something given away for completely free without any cost.
Used in a Sentence: The bookstore handed out freebie bookmarks with every purchase. / Who doesn’t love getting a freebie pen at a convention?
Similar Expressions: Free item / Complimentary gift
40. On the house
Definition: Paid for by the business, meaning it costs the customer nothing.
Used in a Sentence: Because our meal took a little extra time, the restaurant made our desserts on the house. / The bartender offered a glass of sparkling water on the house.
Similar Expressions: Complimentary / Free
41. Cost next to nothing
Definition: Extremely cheap; requiring almost zero financial outlay.
Used in a Sentence: Growing your own cherry tomatoes in pots costs next to nothing. / Second-hand paperback books cost next to nothing.
Similar Expressions: Inexpensive / Very cheap
42. Cut-rate
Definition: Sold at a price lower than standard or normal; cheap.
Used in a Sentence: He booked a cut-rate flight that departed very early in the morning. / The store offers cut-rate insurance for older vehicles.
Similar Expressions: Discounted / Low-cost
43. Ground-floor price
Definition: The lowest possible starting price for an investment or purchase.
Used in a Sentence: They got in on the apartment lease at a ground-floor price before rent went up. / Buying early gave us ground-floor prices on the software subscription.
Similar Expressions: Early bird price / Lowest cost
44. Low-end
Definition: The cheapest and most basic tier of products available.
Used in a Sentence: He bought a low-end smartphone just to make emergency calls. / The low-end computer model is fine for typing notes, but not gaming.
Similar Expressions: Basic / Budget tier
45. Discount store
Definition: A retail shop specializing in selling goods at cheap prices.
Used in a Sentence: We bought all our party paper plates and napkins at the discount store. / You can find cleaning supplies cheaper at the discount store.
Similar Expressions: Bargain store / Dollar store
46. Dollar store
Definition: A shop where most items are sold very cheaply for a dollar or low fixed price.
Used in a Sentence: I ran to the dollar store to grab some cheap poster boards for my project. / Wrapping paper and gift bags are best bought at the dollar store.
Similar Expressions: Budget shop / Five-and-dime
47. Second-hand
Definition: Previously owned by someone else, usually sold cheaply.
Used in a Sentence: Buying second-hand textbooks saved me over a hundred dollars this term. / She loves furnishing her apartment with second-hand furniture.
Similar Expressions: Used / Thrifted
48. Thrift store find
Definition: A cheap, valuable, or unique item discovered in a charity secondhand shop.
Used in a Sentence: This woolen sweater was an amazing thrift store find for just three dollars. / Finding that vintage camera was a true thrift store find.
Similar Expressions: Second-hand bargain / Vintage score
49. Salvage bargain
Definition: Buying damaged or discarded items cheaply to repair or reuse.
Used in a Sentence: He picked up an old bicycle frame as a salvage bargain and fixed it up. / The wooden planks were a salvage bargain from the old barn.
Similar Expressions: Scrap deal / Cheap salvage
50. Pennies on the dollar
Definition: Buying something for a tiny fraction of its original or true value.
Used in a Sentence: The failing store auctioned off its remaining inventory at pennies on the dollar. / We bought the warehouse equipment for pennies on the dollar.
Similar Expressions: Massive discount / Super cheap
Exercise to Practice
- Costing a mere song means being extremely expensive and unaffordable.
- Dirt cheap means extremely low in price, costing almost nothing.
- Being penny-wise and pound-foolish means saving small amounts while wasting large amounts.
- Pinching pennies means spending money wildly without any care or budget.
- A skinflint is someone who is extremely generous and loves giving away cash.
- Being tight-fisted means unwilling to spend money and extremely stingy.
- A steal means an item priced so low it feels like a bargain.
- Buying something for a song means purchasing it for an extremely high price.
- Cheap as chips means very inexpensive indeed.
- A dime a dozen means extremely rare, valuable, and hard to find.
- Cutting corners means doing something the cheapest way, often ruining quality.
- Tightening your belt means spending more money on luxury items.
- Living on a shoestring means living on an extremely small budget.
- A freebie means an item that costs a lot of money to purchase.
- Pennies on the dollar means buying something for a tiny fraction of its value.
Answer Key
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
Conclusion
Learning idioms for cheap helps you describe bargains, low costs, and financial frugality with colorful and expressive language. It gives you great ways to talk about saving money, finding deals, and living within a budget. Try using a fun expression like “dirt cheap” or “a steal” next time you find a great bargain.
Practice spotting these money phrases in stories and conversations to see how characters handle shopping and budgeting. Before long, using these expressions will become a natural and powerful part of your vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for cheap?
Some common expressions include dirt cheap, a steal, and pinch pennies. People use these phrases every day to describe low prices and saving money.
Why do we use idioms in English?
Idioms make our language more colorful, expressive, and engaging compared to plain words. They let us share complex feelings about money and bargains quickly during conversations.
What does it mean to buy something “for a song”?
This idiom means to buy something very cheaply. It dates back centuries to when street musicians would perform in exchange for whatever small coin people threw them.
How can I practice learning English idioms?
You can practice by using one new idiom each day in a sentence or short story. Reading books and watching friendly videos also helps you see them used in real contexts.
Are idioms difficult to learn for students?
Idioms can be tricky because their literal meanings differ from what they actually mean. However, learning them through simple stories and examples makes them easy to remember and use.
