3
general::
cheap
costing very little money, or less than you expected:
• My shoes were really cheap – they only cost £25. • The cheapest way to get to Chicago is to take the bus. • cheap flights
low
low prices, rents, and fees do not cost a lot of money. Do not use cheap with these words:
• Why is the share price so low? • You could get equally good accommodation elsewhere at a lower rent.
inexpensive
especially written not expensive – use this especially about things that are of good quality, even though they do not cost a lot:
• The furniture is inexpensive, but well made. • a simple inexpensive meal • a hotel that offers air-conditioned rooms at relatively inexpensive prices
reasonable
a reasonable price seems fair because it is not too high:
• The restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices. • Only £25 a night? That sounds reasonable.
economical
cheap because you do not need to use a lot of money or fuel:
• an economical car • It is usually more economical to buy in large quantities.
affordable
cheap enough for most people to be able to buy or pay for:
• affordable housing • Single mothers often have trouble finding affordable childcare. • The shop sells designer fashions at affordable prices.
competitive
competitive prices and rates are as low as those charged by other shops or companies:
• I think you’ll find our prices are extremely competitive. • The hotel offers a high standard of service at very competitive rates.
budget
[ only before noun ] budget flights, airlines, hotels etc have specially low prices:
• You can get a budget flight to Amsterdam for only £19. • a list of budget hotels for under $50 a night • budget accommodation for families with young children
be good/great value
to be worth at least the price you pay for it, so that you feel pleased and think you have spent your money well:
• The meals at Charlie’s Pizza are really good value. • The holiday is great value for money.
be a bargain
informal to be extremely cheap:
• I got this shirt when I was in Indonesia. It was a real bargain.
COLLOCATIONS CHECK
low
price/cost/rent/fee/charge
reasonable
price/cost
economical
car/way/method
affordable
accommodation/housing/price
competitive
price/rate
budget
flight/airline/hotel/accommodation
Longman-Thesaurus
4
general::
adj., adv. low price VERBS be, be going a brand new radio going cheap | buy sth, sell sth They're selling fabrics cheap this week. | not come Shoes like that don't come cheap. ADV. amazingly, extremely, incredibly, remarkably, ridiculously, very It's a good restaurant, and incredibly cheap. | comparatively, fairly, pretty, quite, reasonably, relatively | hardly, not exactly At £60,000 the car is not exactly cheap (= it is very expensive). | suspiciously The watch was suspiciously cheap; it was probably a fake. | buy/get sth on the cheap The school managed to get a couple of computers on the cheap. poor quality VERBS be, look The glasses are plain without looking cheap. PHRASES cheap and nasty cheap and nasty products with brand names you've never heard of
Oxford Collocations Dictionary