Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to play it cheap

to play it cheap

8.2
Spend as little money as possible by buying low-quality things
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : ser tacaño
  • Don't play it cheap when planning the wedding!

Examples

  • You shouldn't play it cheap when it comes to your health.

  • The company tried to play it cheap on materials, and the product suffered.

  • Instead of playing it cheap, they invested in the best equipment available.

  • He always plays it cheap when buying gifts.

  • He likes to play it cheap by always using coupons and never paying full price.

  • Instead of spending money on a nice dinner, they decided to play it cheap and make sandwiches at home.

  • To save some cash, she often plays it cheap when buying clothes, opting for clearance items.

Synonyms

to scrimp
vsto play it cheap
8 7.4

Spend very little money by using only what you need

is more about stinginess or choosing low quality to save money
to save a buck
vsto play it cheap
  • Informal
2 6.4

Spend less money than usual when you buy something

is stronger, implying stinginess or cheap quality rather than mild saving
to penny-pinch
vsto play it cheap
  • Informal
1 7.7

Spend very little money and avoid buying things you do not need

is more negative, focusing on stingy or low quality cost cutting
to skin a flint for a penny
vsto play it cheap
  • Archaic
9.9

To be very unwilling to spend money, even small amounts

is broader meaning stingy or low quality behaviour to cut expenses

Antonyms

to invest
715 3.5

To put money, time, or effort into something hoping for a future benefit

to lavish
17 5.3

To give a lot of money, praise, or love to someone freely

How Cheap

miserliness
1 8.2
stinginess
1 6.8
to play it cheap
  • Informal
8.2
frugal
31 4.9
economical
23 3.8

Surface Forms

play it cheap infinitive
played it cheap past
played it cheap past participle
playing it cheap present participle
plays it cheap third person singular

Morphology

play + it + cheap

The sense 'behave in a stingy or low-quality way' is directly derivable from the construction 'play it' (act/behave in a certain way) combined with 'cheap' (in a stingy or low-cost manner). The 'play it + adjective' pattern is productive in English (e.g., 'play it safe', 'play it cool'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer this meaning.

Etymology

Play it cheap may come from the image of a play put on with cheap props or instruments, so the show looks poor and low-cost. That's why it now means 'to be stingy or to do something in a low-quality way to save money'.