everything but cheap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "everything but cheap" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that all items or options are included except for those that are inexpensive or low-cost. Example: "The store offers everything but cheap products, ensuring high quality for all their items."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

People lost everything; they became nothing but cheap labour," says Macz. "It was a military operation.

The Guardian

Sorghum doesn't just look like corn, it does everything corn does but cheaper and more sustainably.

Huffington Post

WHSmith feels like it should be a pound store – somewhere shit, but cheap – except everything is also strangely expensive, the sort of place you end up spending £2.50 on a bottle of water.

Vice

"But here, everything is cheap.

BBC

"They've got everything, everything cheap," he added, "but if you move up the ladder, they're not in your consideration set".

The New York Times

But not everything cheap is snapped up.

The Guardian - Money

When you go up north in California, it's a little different, but right here in LA County everything is cheap, everything is in bulk".

Vice

"Why is everything so cheap?

The New Yorker

Everything was cheap in Gaza then.

The Guardian

With American money, everything was cheap.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Everything had cheap chemicals in it," Ms. Prunier, 43, said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "everything but cheap" to clearly indicate that all items or options are included except for the low-cost ones, ensuring the audience understands the selection criteria.

Common error

Avoid using "everything but cheap" in highly formal or professional writing. While grammatically correct, it might sound too informal. Consider using alternatives like "all except inexpensive options".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everything but cheap" functions as a modifier to describe a selection or set of items. It indicates that all items are included except those that are inexpensive or low-cost. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "everything but cheap" is a grammatically correct phrase used to specify that a selection includes all items except those that are inexpensive. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it's more suited for neutral to informal contexts. More formal alternatives such as "all except inexpensive" may be preferred in professional or academic writing. The phrase's primary function is to clarify a selection criterion, implying a focus on quality over affordability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all except inexpensive

Replaces "cheap" with a more formal synonym, "inexpensive".

everything excluding low-cost options

More explicitly states the exclusion of low-cost options.

all items excluding budget items

Specifies that budget items are not included.

everything aside from bargain options

Uses "bargain" as a synonym for "cheap".

everything with the exception of discounted items

Replaces "cheap" with "discounted", focusing on price reduction.

all alternatives excluding cut-price

Uses "cut-price" to mean low cost.

everything excluding economical

Substitutes "cheap" with "economical" for a slightly more formal tone.

all products excluding affordable items

Replaces "cheap" with "affordable".

everything apart from modestly priced options

Replaces "cheap" with the longer phrase "modestly priced".

all choices excluding value-priced

Substitutes "cheap" with "value-priced".

FAQs

How can I rephrase the expression "everything but cheap"?

You can use alternatives like "all except inexpensive", "everything excluding low-cost options", or "all items excluding budget items" depending on the context.

Is "everything but cheap" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "everything but cheap" may sound informal. Opt for phrases like "all except inexpensive" for a more formal tone.

What does "everything but cheap" mean?

It means that all items or options are included, with the exception of those that are inexpensive or low-cost.

Can I use "everything but cheap" to describe high-quality products?

Yes, you can use it to imply that the products offered are of higher quality and not the cheapest available. For example, "The store offers "everything but cheap" products, ensuring high quality for all their items".