cheap ◆◆◇ /tʃiː p/ (cheaper , cheapest )
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ n] Goods or services that are cheap cost less money than usual or than you expected. □ Smoke detectors are cheap and easy to put up. □ Running costs are coming down because of cheaper fuel. □ They served breakfast all day and sold it cheap. ● cheap|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ It will produce electricity more cheaply than a nuclear plant. ● cheap|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The cheapness and simplicity of the design makes it ideal for our task.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe goods as cheap , you mean they cost less money than similar products but their quality is poor. □ Don't resort to cheap copies; save up for the real thing. □ …a tight suit made of some cheap material.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone's remarks or actions as cheap , you mean that they are unkindly or insincerely using a situation to benefit themselves or to harm someone else. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ These tests will inevitably be used by politicians to make cheap political points.
4 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe someone as cheap , you are criticizing them for being unwilling to spend money. [AM , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Oh, please, Dad, just this once don't be cheap.
5 PHRASE If someone does or buys something on the cheap , they spend less money than they should because they are more concerned with what it costs than with its quality. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Most modern housing estates are terrible and inevitably done on the cheap.
cheap|en /tʃiː pən/ (cheapens , cheapening , cheapened ) VERB If something cheapens a person or thing, it lowers their reputation or position. □ [V n] When America boycotted the Moscow Games, it cheapened the medals won. □ [V -ed] Love is a word cheapened by overuse.
cheapo /tʃiː poʊ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Cheapo things are very inexpensive and probably of poor quality. [INFORMAL ] □ …cheapo deals on wobbly airlines.
chea p sho t (cheap shots ) N‑COUNT A cheap shot is a comment someone makes which you think is unfair or unkind. [DISAPPROVAL ]
cheap|skate /tʃiː pske I t/ (cheapskates ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a cheapskate , you think that they are mean and do not like spending money. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Tell your husband not to be a cheapskate.
cheat /tʃiː t/ (cheats , cheating , cheated )
1 VERB When someone cheats , they do not obey a set of rules which they should be obeying, for example in a game or exam. □ [V ] Students may be tempted to cheat in order to get into top schools. ● cheat|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ In an election in 1988, he was accused of cheating by his opponent.
2 N‑COUNT Someone who is a cheat does not obey a set of rules which they should be obeying. □ Cheats will be disqualified.
3 VERB If someone cheats you out of something, they get it from you by behaving dishonestly. □ [V n + out of/of ] The company engaged in a deliberate effort to cheat them out of their pensions. □ [V n] Many brokers were charged with cheating customers in commodity trades.
4 PHRASE If you say that someone cheats death , you mean they only just avoid being killed. [JOURNALISM ] □ He cheated death when he was rescued from the roof of his blazing cottage.
▸ cheat on
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone cheats on their husband, wife, or partner, they have a sexual relationship with another person. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] I'd found Philippe was cheating on me and I was angry and hurt.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone cheats on something such as an agreement or their taxes, they do not do what they should do under a set of rules. [mainly AM ] □ [V P n] Their job is to check that none of the signatory countries is cheating on the agreement.
cheat|er /tʃiː tə r / (cheaters ) N‑COUNT A cheater is someone who cheats. [mainly AM ]
chea t sheet (cheat sheets ) N‑COUNT A cheat sheet is a short list of information that you can use to help you do or remember something. □ If this all sounds too hard to remember, print out the cheat sheet and stick it on the side of your computer screen for quick reference.
check ◆◆◇ /tʃe k/ (checks , checking , checked )
1 VERB If you check something such as a piece of information or a document, you make sure that it is correct or satisfactory. □ [V n] Check the accuracy of everything in your CV. □ [V ] I think there is an age limit, but I'd have to check. □ [V wh] She hadn't checked whether she had a clean ironed shirt. □ [V that] He checked that he had his room key. □ [V + with ] I shall need to check with the duty officer. ● N‑COUNT Check is also a noun. □ [+ on ] He is being constantly monitored with regular checks on his blood pressure. □ …a security check.
2 → see also cross-check
3 VERB If you check on someone or something, you make sure they are in a safe or satisfactory condition. □ [V + on ] He decided to check on things at the warehouse.
4 VERB If you check something that is written on a piece of paper, you put a mark, like a V with the right side extended, next to it to show that something is correct or has been selected or dealt with. [AM ] □ [V n] Check the box at the top of the form indicating that it is the correct version. in BRIT, usually use tick 5 VERB To check something, usually something bad, means to stop it from spreading or continuing. □ [V n] Sex education is also expected to help check the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
6 VERB If you check yourself or if something checks you, you suddenly stop what you are doing or saying. □ [V pron-refl] He was about to lose his temper but checked himself in time. □ [V n] I held up one finger to check him.