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• dirt-cheap
  dirt-cheap

  adjective

  very inexpensive.
• dirt cheap
  dirt cheap

  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]

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

See Examples For:

dirt-cheap dirt cheap

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 ● Nov. 2, 2025

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

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 18, 2023

The theory was that dirt-cheap money would encourage a modest rise in inflation that would stimulate corporate profits.

From New York Times ● Feb. 13, 2023

But can a $2 million laser compete with a dirt-cheap lightning rod?

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 16, 2023

She purchased a dirt-cheap, used red Ford Pinto with fake-wood paneling.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

See also: Micron’s stock is still dirt cheap.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026

With Spirit gone, you can bet that dirt cheap fares to Florida, for example, will be harder to come by.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

If you’re from the Midwest, you know it’s customary to respond to a compliment on your outfit with an effusive “Thank you so much, I got it dirt cheap on massive sale!”

From Slate ● Mar. 1, 2025

"Everything was dirt cheap, and if you were a foreigner you'd get attention," he says.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024

You could get everything from fence posts to lambing pens to refrigerators dirt cheap.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

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