Phrase guide

buy cheap, buy twice

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

Buying a low-priced but inferior product (i.e., one that is cheap in both senses of that word) is a false economy because it will need replacement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: buy nice or buy twice, good work ain't cheap, cheap work ain't good, you buy cheap, you get cheap

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: goedkoop is duurkoop — buying a cheap product is a false economy
  • Finnish: köyhällä ei ole varaa halpaan — buying a cheap product is a false economy
  • German: wer billig kauft, kauft zweimal — buying a cheap product is a false economy
  • Korean: 싼 것이 비지떡 (ssan geos-i bijitteok) — buying a cheap product is a false economy
  • Polish: chytry dwa razy traci — buying a cheap product is a false economy
  • Portuguese: o barato sai caro — buying a cheap product is a false economy
  • Russian: скупо́й пла́тит два́жды (skupój plátit dváždy) — buying a cheap product is a false economy
  • Spanish: lo barato sale caro — buying a cheap product is a false economy