cheap foul

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cheap foul" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts discussing sports or situations where a minor or inexpensive penalty is incurred. For example, "The player received a cheap foul for barely touching his opponent." Alternative expressions include "minor foul" and "trivial foul."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It's too bad he picked up a cheap foul that early," Bird said.

The New York Times - Sports

"When someone drives the lane, we try to slide in, as opposed to a toll taker, putting your arm out there and getting a cheap foul that way," Calhoun said.

The New York Times - Sports

But the hosts' forays forward meant that the possibility of a third Madrid goal always existed, and after a cheap foul by Dany Nounkeu at the corner of the box, Ronaldo dipped the resulting free-kick onto the roof of the net shortly before the break.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The latter told him to take matters into his own hands, so after the next provocation, Russell punched Felix unconscious, paid a $25 fine and was no longer a target of cheap fouls.

Wikipedia

Seeing more and more of the game's best athletes put on Oscar-worthy performances to get cheap fouls called never looks good and turning it into a rule could actually an entertaining element to the game.

Huffington Post

"I'm not going to be cheap and foul or hit somebody.

The New York Times - Sports

"AMERICAN journalists only print lies," Jun Myung Kyu, the South Korean short-track speedskating coach, said after his man, Kim Dong Sung, was disqualified in the men's 1,500 meters Wednesday night for what looked like a cheap touch foul against Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States.

The New York Times - Sports

Sung by anyone else to men, some of whom have been forced to live with the threat of hanging, this could only be a foul, cheap joke.

The Guardian - Music

Keep your cool -- don't commit a cheap and foolish foul after making a mistake.

WikiHow

After reviewing the play, the officials declared the cheap shot a flagrant foul type 1, giving Griffin two foul shots and then possession to L.A. A flagrant foul type 2 would have resulted in an ejection.

Huffington Post

Ms. Bernheim, with pinpoint comic timing, gets most of the chuckles with her foul-mouthed-granny stereotype, but it's a cheap form of humor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this phrase for informal or journalistic contexts, particularly sports reporting, where evaluative language is common

Common error

Avoid using "cheap foul" when you actually mean a "cheap shot". A foul refers to a breach of game rules (like a reach-in), whereas a shot often implies a deliberate, unfair and sometimes violent act against an opponent.

Linguistic Context

In the phrase "cheap foul", the word "cheap" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "foul". It functions as a qualitative descriptor that assigns a negative value to the action. According to Ludwig AI, this construction is typical for idiomatic expressions where the adjective carries a metaphorical meaning (meaning 'low value' or 'lacking integrity') rather than a literal financial one.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

12%

Reference

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "cheap foul" is a precise idiomatic phrase used to characterize a sports penalty as avoidable, minor or strategically poor. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used by expert writers in top-tier publications to add evaluative depth to their reporting. While it is most frequently found in the world of basketball, soccer and American football, its meaning remains consistent: it denotes a mistake that should have been avoided. Writers should be careful to distinguish it from more aggressive terms like "cheap shot", as "cheap foul" typically refers to a standard, albeit regrettable, violation of the rules rather than an act of malice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary foul

highlights that the penalty served no strategic purpose and could have been avoided

soft foul

emphasizes that the contact was minimal or that the referee's call was lenient

silly foul

suggests a lack of concentration or a mental lapse by the player

foolish foul

implies the penalty was the result of a poor decision-making process

lazy foul

indicates the foul happened because the player was out of position or lacked effort

trivial foul

points to a minor infraction that had little impact on the game flow

avoidable penalty

uses a more formal noun that is applicable beyond basketball or soccer

tactical foul

describes an intentional foul used for strategic gain rather than a mistake

clear foul

shifts the focus to the obviousness of the infraction rather than its value

cheap shot

usually refers to a dirty or unsportsmanlike physical blow rather than a standard rule violation

FAQs

How do you use "cheap foul" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a regrettable mistake, such as: "The defender picked up a "cheap foul" away from the ball, putting his team in early penalty trouble".

What is the difference between a "cheap foul" and a "soft foul"?

A "cheap foul" usually implies the player was at fault for a lapse in judgment, while a "soft foul" often suggests that the referee made a strict call on very light contact.

Is "cheap foul" considered slang?

It is not strictly slang but is a highly idiomatic sports term. It is widely accepted in professional journalism but might be too informal for a technical rulebook.

What can I say instead of "cheap foul"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "unnecessary foul" for a more neutral description or "foolish foul" to emphasize the player's error.