dirt-cheap

American  

[durt-cheep] / ˈdɜrtˈtʃip /

adjective

1. very inexpensive.

   The house may need a lot of work, but it was dirt-cheap.

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adverb

1. cheaply.

   They got it dirt-cheap.

dirt-cheap British  

adjective

1. informal at an extremely low price

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dirt cheap Idioms  

1. Very inexpensive, as in Their house was a real bargain, dirt cheap. Although the idea dates back to ancient times, the precise expression, literally meaning “as cheap as dirt,” replaced the now obsolete dog cheap. [Early 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of dirt-cheap

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Michael Gutberlet, CEO of Kaweco Pen Company, a German penmaker founded in 1883, tells his industry peers that dirt-cheap Chinese copies are as big of a threat as the decline of handwriting.

From The Wall Street Journal

By subletting a room in his San Jose apartment, cutting his housing costs by half, and later living in his in-laws’ basement for “dirt-cheap rent,” he amassed enough wealth by his early 30s to have the financial freedom to start his own firm.

From MarketWatch

A petrochemical company has announced it intends to cut 60 jobs at a plant in East Yorkshire blaming high energy costs and "dirt-cheap" imports from China.

From BBC

Still, there are no guarantees that they will be able to compete with the dirt-cheap yards of South Asia.

From BBC

Many airlines, especially discount carriers, quote a dirt-cheap base fare.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cheap
• economical
• low-cost
• low-priced
• modest
• popular
• reasonable