cheap out

To spend too little on something, so its quality suffers.

• Do not cheap out on safety equipment.
• The builder cheaped out and used poor materials.
• You can tell they cheaped out on the seats.

How to use it: cheap out on something (They cheaped out on the wiring.)

Similar words: cut corners, skimp

Common phrases: cheap out on something, cheap out on repairs

To refuse to spend a reasonable amount of money.

• Please do not cheap out this time.
• She cheaped out when it was her turn to pay.
• He always cheaps out on birthday gifts.

How to use it: cheap out on someone (He cheaped out on us and bought no drinks.)

Similar words: be stingy, be tightfisted

Common phrases: cheap out again, cheap out on someone

To spend so little that you fail to deliver what someone needs or was promised.

• The company cheaped out and never finished the project.
• They cheaped out on staffing, leaving guests without the promised service.
• We were cheaped out of a decent holiday.

How to use it: cheap someone out of something (The hotel cheaped us out of the comfortable stay it had promised.)

Common phrases: cheap out on something, cheap out on services