cheap out
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: cheapen out
Sense 1
To reduce costs on a project or product to an unreasonable degree; to cut corners.
Register: informal
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
To act cheap; to unreasonably refuse to spend money.
Register: informal
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
To be too stingy to achieve a purpose or provide a promised product/service/project.
Register: informal
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cheap out” mean?
To reduce costs on a project or product to an unreasonable degree; to cut corners.
Is “cheap out” formal or informal?
cheap out is generally informal.