cheat sheet

[cheet sheet]

noun

Informal.

1. a sheet of paper or a digital document containing information used by a student for cheating on an exam or in the classroom.

   She had a cheat sheet for the history test with a list of the correct answers.

2. a document containing notes or other aids used as a reference in studying or remembering certain information.

   I used a cheat sheet with statistics and bar graphs to prepare for my radio interview.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheat sheet¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The pros I spoke with offered this “common clutter” cheat sheet using a spectrum from “don’t bother” to “you’re sitting on a fortune”:

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But just in case you're joining us for the first time and keen to catch up on the major movies, here's a quick cheat sheet with each contender's plot summarised in one sentence:

Read more on BBC

Now that you understand the stakes, here’s a cheat sheet to the types of pots and pans you might encounter in the marketplace.

Read more on Salon

Still, it can get confusing, so here’s a cheat sheet for the undecided: Swift is not a fan of the former president.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Patel’s plot relies on sexual aggression toward women as a moral cheat sheet while also using the same exploitation as a cheeky visual backdrop — a trope that can often be a trap.

Read more on Los Angeles Times