Can we say "the price is very cheap"?

[EngFan]

Hi All,

In English, can we "the price is very cheap"?


EngFan

 

[5jj]

We can, but we don't normally. We prefer to say that the product is very cheap, or the price is very low.

 

[discipulus]

"price" is never cheap.

products are cheap.

you could say

price is economical

or

this product is cheap


cheap is a derogatory term, use it with caution

the fellow is really cheap.

implies, the fellow is a freak, uncivilized, or lacking manners.

 

[5jj]

"price" is never cheap. [STRIKE]p[/STRIKE] Products are cheap. [STRIKE]y[/STRIKE] You could say

the price is economical We would not normally say that

or

this product is cheap


[STRIKE]c[/STRIKE] 'Cheap' is a derogatory term, not normally in the context we are discussing use it with caution:

the fellow is really cheap.

implies, the fellow is a freak, uncivilized, or lacking manners. No it doesn't. See definitiions 3 and 4 here.

Please begin sentences with a capital letter.

 

[EngFan]

We can, but we don't normally. We prefer to say that the product is very cheap, or the price is very low.

[FONT=&quot]Hi 5jj,

I also have same thought but according to Oxford Collocations Dictionary, it says "cheap" can be an adjective for "price", could you please let me know the reason? Thanks
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
price [/FONT][FONT=&quot]noun [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]adjective [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]exorbitant [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]high [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]inflated [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]prohibitive [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]steep [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]They charge exorbitant ~s for their goods. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The ~ of fuel is prohibitive. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]rising [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]soaring [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]falling [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]cheap [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]low [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]bargain [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]budget [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]discounted [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]knock-down [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( BrE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]reduced [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]rock-bottom [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]designer clothes at bargain ~s [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]affordable [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]attractive [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]competitive [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]decent [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]fair [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]reasonable [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]right [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We sell quality tools at the right ~. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]good [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I managed to get a good ~ for my old car. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]average [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]asking [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]purchase [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What's the asking ~ for this house? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]You need to pay a deposit of 10% of the purchase ~ of the property. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]recommended [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. BrE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]suggested [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. AmE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The suggested retail ~ of the DVD is $19.99. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]retail [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]sale [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]sales [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]selling [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]wholesale [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]cost [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. BrE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]They are selling off summer shoes at cost ~. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]base [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. AmE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The car has a base ~ of $28[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]640. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]full [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]half [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Children travel half ~ until age ten. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]fixed [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]They sell cars at fixed ~s, with no haggling. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]market [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]This website tells you the market ~ of all makes of second-hand car. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]admission [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]ticket [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]admission ~s at the museum [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]consumer [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]bond [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]commodity [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]gold [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]share [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. BrE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]stock [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. AmE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]food [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]house [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]housing [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. AmE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]land [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]property [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. BrE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]real estate [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( esp. AmE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]electricity [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]energy [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]fuel [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]gas [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]gasoline [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( AmE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]oil [/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]petrol [/FONT][FONT=&quot]( BrE ) [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[5jj]

I also have same thought but according to Oxford Collocations Dictionary, it says "cheap" can be an adjective for "price".

I didn't say it couldn't be. I said, "We prefer to say that the product is very cheap, or the price is very low". There are 20 citations for 'cheap price(s)' in the BNC, and 195 for 'low price(s)', which confirms what I said.

 

[EngFan]

I didn't say it couldn't be. I said, "We prefer to say that the product is very cheap, or the price is very low". There are 20 citations for 'cheap price(s)' in the BNC, and 195 for 'low price(s)', which confirms what I said.

Thanks a lot for your explanation.

 

[EngFan]

By the way, I'd like to know what BNC is?

 

[5jj]

By the way, I'd like to know what BNC is?

If you hover your cursor over the letters, you will see.

 

[Tdol]

The links are here:

BNC
ANC

Great sites.

 

[Tdol]

price is economical

This may be used in your variant, but in BrE it would be less common than the price is cheap.

 

[birdeen's call]

Great sites.

Right. EngFan, I recommend you learn how to use them. They will help you a lot in your study.