dirt-cheap

[ durt-cheep ]

adjective

1. very inexpensive:

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

adverb

1. cheaply:

   They got it dirt-cheap.

dirt-cheap

adjective

1. informal.
   at an extremely low price

Word History and Origins

Origin of dirt-cheap¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

Consider Spirit Airlines, the dirt-cheap carrier everyone loves to loathe.

From The Daily Beast

The health centers are dirt cheap, the county hospitals cost a bit more, and the regional hospitals a bit more than that.

From The Daily Beast

New milker with a calf still beside her—purty as a picture, the pair of 'em, and dirt cheap.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Assyrians (like the Romans after them) could avail themselves of a limitless amount of dirt-cheap labour.

From Project Gutenberg

And we can sell it so dirt-cheap that the whole country has GOT to take it—can't get around it you see.

From Project Gutenberg

The party finally mounted the char-a-bancs, just as I was about to offer the baby for twenty-five pounds, and dirt cheap at that.

From Project Gutenberg

They'd got her dirt cheap, but they'd let me come in for a third share, and be managing owner, with Johnsen as skipper.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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