proverb · Words worth keeping
Cheap is dear in the long run.
Cheap is dear in the long run.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying makes a cheap purchase costly over time. It distinguishes the initial price from the expense of keeping or replacing something.
What the words are saying
Dear supplies the later cost in contrast to cheap at the start. A qualified application can compare suitability, upkeep and expected use without assuming a higher price proves better quality. The phrase does not establish an actual total cost or recommend a particular purchase.
Everyday example
Someone considers repair and replacement needs alongside the initial price when comparing suitable options.
When to use it
Use it to discuss total costs with evidence specific to the options.
What it does not mean
Cheap is not always costly later, and an expensive option is not automatically better.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 125; PDF page 22
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.