play it cheap

English

Verb

play it cheap (third-person singular simple present plays it cheap, present participle playing it cheap, simple past and past participle played it cheap)

1. (informal, idiomatic, uncommon) To be frugal or stingy.
   • 1885, John F. Slater Fund for the Education of Freedmen, Proceedings of the Trustees of the John F. Slater Fund for the Education of Freedmen, page 11:

     With blind eagerness, judged by subsequent action and indifference, our Government seems to have essayed to play the part of philanthropist, guide, and friend, but to "play it cheap", as if phrases could alter facts, or high-sounds declarations could complete, in a moment, what centuries elsewhere have been none too long ago.

   • 1892, Alfred Milner Milner (Viscount), England in Egypt, page 80:

     It was no less grateful to the British people in their honest desire to play the part of guide, philosopher, and friend to the people of Egypt, but to play it cheap.

   • 1978, United States Air Force Academy (contributor), Proceedings, page 42:

     It may cost politicians their necks for giving them those reasons, but some politicians have moved in and out of office-and some have stayed there-by playing it cheap.

   • 1997, Laser Disc Newsletter, The Laser Disc Newsletter, Issues 149-160, page 8:

     it plays it cheap, it plays it safe. The disc is a Columbia TriStar Home Video Deluxe Widescreen Presentation (89546, $40).

   • 2006, Ron Shelp, Fallen Giant, The Amazing Story of Hank Greenberg and the History of AIG, page 108:

     Then, mistakenly, we played it cheap by having some of our Chinese employees in New York translate it.

   • 2007, Dan Costa, “The Music Wants To Be Free”, in PC Mag‎^[1], page 81:

     I played it cheap with my In Rainbows purchase, but many committed Radiohead fans were more generous.

   • 2008, Francine Craft, Designed for Passion, page 244:

     No, he didn't play it cheap, but that didn't alter the fact that he was never going to let himself hurt Melodye.

   • 2010, Jeff Dunham, All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me:

     There were no limos or extravagances at this point, because we all wanted to make as much money as possible. We played it cheap. No huge catering bills, no wild parties, not even upgraded hotel rooms. Whenever we arrived at an airport Robin would be there to meet us in a rented SUV or big sedan, and we'd head to the gig on our own.

   • 2018, Jeffrey Lewis, Bealport, A Novel of a Town:

     The Checker had taken many poundings down the years and for a big car was agile on its feet, but Ed had played it cheap as he always did and stuck with an old bald set of Royals where the rubber had gone hard as rocks.

   • 2021, Ryan Sleeper, Professional Hold’Em Strategies, The Complete Collection for Becoming a Professional No-Limit Hold’Em Player:

     But even if they do have the made hand, you still have outs to beat them. Play it cheap if you can otherwise fold.