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Professional English for Business
Business Vocabulary
How to talk about items which are cheap or expensive using words, expressions and idioms
efbweb.com
EFBWeb.Com - Business Vocabulary - Cheap vs. Expensive
Read the text carefully. Pay special attention to the words and phrases in bold print. Try to memorize their meaning and context in which
they are used. This vocabulary will be practised through the whole lesson and used in the test.
There are a lot of words and expressions that are used to describe things that cost a lot. Most people say that such goods are expensive,
costly, dear or pricey. If the price is too high it is said to be exorbitant, excessive, steep, sky-high or eye-watering and items or things are
referred to as overpriced or overrated. Businesses that sell such products to customers usually call them upmarket, high-end, premium
or informally high-ticket.
There are also lots of idiomatic expressions that describe goods that people cannot a ord. In such situations the word cost + a word or a
phrase can be used. Most frequent are the following examples: something can cost: a packet, a pretty penny, a bomb, an arm and a leg,
the earth or a bundle. When an item is something you have not enough money for you can say it hurts your pocket or makes a hole in
your pocket. You can refer to it as a daylight robbery. Expensive things are also considered to be worth: a king’s ransom, a fortune or
their weight in gold. In such cases you have to pay for them through the nose or when you buy them you pay the devil. You need to be
careful as paying too much for something i.e. paying beyond your means will make you short-changed i.e. without money. It can make
you feel you are ripped o or you are: stung, done or had. Buying something expensive but at the same time useless is referred to as
buying a white elephant. Much more desired are items which are like gold dust. A lot of people want them but they are di cult to get.
It’s important to carefully choose adjectives that refer to items worth a lot. When they are described as valuable or precious this simply
means they are of great value. Those which are superior are of high quality. Priceless or invaluable items are those whose value is so
great that it cannot be measured.
Similarly there are a lot of expressions used to describe something cheap. Most commonly people say that such goods are inexpensive,
low-priced or a ordable. They might be referred to as a pennyworth or a bargain if they cost less than one could expect or free if you can
have them for nothing i.e. no money or if they are on the house. Business people will address them as low-end, downmarket or low-
budget as they view the price from the perspective of a company and how much it earns. They are also prepared to provide their
customers with freebies or gratuitous products i.e. provided for free.
When something is within one’s means i.e. they can a ord it easily we can also say it is easy on the pocket. Items that do not cost a lot
are said to cost peanuts and then we can have them for: a song, love, kicks, nix or the asking. They are just easily a orded and are within
anyone’s reach. Low-cost goods are described as economical or cost-e ective and worth the money. Mostly you can have them at
wholesale prices which are mostly much lower than retail ones i.e. paid for individual items.
SET I
1. Matching task
Match the words with the proper de nitions/sentences.
nothing / ripped / daylight / song / inexpensive / bundle / exorbitant / easy / cost-e ective / money / low-end / costly / upmarket
u sed to describe goods which are expensive and perhaps of a good quality compared to other goods etc. of the same type
if something is very cheap you can have it for a ...
if something is very cheap it is ... on the pocket
if something is very expensive it costs a ...
very cheap, used mostly in positive contexts
very expensive, especially wasting a lot of money
an amount of money etc. that is much higher than it should be
bringing the best possible advantages in relation to the money spent to produce something
if something is very expensive you are ... o if you decide to have it
if something is much too expansive we say it is a … robbery
if something is very cheap is worth the …
used to describe products which are the cheapest in a company’s range of products, or in a market in general
if you buy something really cheap you have it for …
2. Multiple choice
Choose the word or phrase whose meaning is the closest to that in the de nition/sentence.
1. used to describe goods which are expensive and perhaps of a good quality compared to other goods etc. of the same type low-end /
peanuts / short-changed / upmarket
2. if you buy something really cheap you have it for … nothing / dust / a bundle / a hole
3. if something is very cheap you can have it for a ... rip-o / song / bargain / bomb
4. used to describe products which are the cheapest in a company’s range of products, or in a market in general the earth /
exorbitant / low-end / priceless
5. if something is very cheap it is ... on the pocket precious / e ective / easy / retail
6. if something is very cheap is worth the … white elephant / money / robbery / bomb
7. if something is very expensive it costs a ... high-ticket / song / wholesale prices / bundle
8. if something is much too expansive we say it is a … robbery ransom / daylight / bundle / premium
9. very cheap, used mostly in positive contexts inexpensive eye-watering /inexpensive / overrated / invaluable
10. if something is very expensive you are ... o if you decide to have it budgeted / ripped / reached / hurt
11. bringing the best possible advantages in relation to the money spent to produce something cost-e ective / priceless /
king’s ransom / short-changed
12. very expensive, especially wasting a lot of money costly / on the house / pennyworth / cost-e ective
13. an amount of money etc. that is much higher than it should be exorbitant / wholesale / superior / stung
3. Correct or wrong
Assess if the de nitions/sentences provided for the words and phrases are correct or wrong.
3. exorbitant - an amount of money etc. that is much lower than it should be
5. upmarket - used to describe goods which are expensive and perhaps of a good quality compared to other goods etc. of the same type
6. cost-e ective - bringing the best possible advantages in relation to the money spent to produce something
8. song - if something is very cheap you can have it for a ...
11. ripped - if something is very expensive you are ... down if you decide to have it
13. low-end - used to describe products which are the cheapest in a company’s range of products, or in a market in general
4. Scrambled words
Rearrange the letters on the right to form the words or phrases practised in the lesson. The meaning of the word must comply with the
de nition/sentence.
5. Word search
Find the words from the list on the left in the word search square. You can read the words horizontally or vertically. Letters can be
arranged in direction i.e.: → ↓.
R I P P E D O F F B S E S I Q R N
N O T H I N G O Z U W Z Y N B I F
E A S Y U W B F U N G F T E S K D
Q C P Y J N U U C D X Q J X V X Z
L O W E N D A C I L Y P Z P Q G U
C E C J X Q E I L E B J R E Y F Z
C O S T E F F E C T I V E N A R Y
M O N E Y S O Z E S L J P S D N U
D A Y L I G H T X U Z P L I U P T
F C C F V M I J O P K G K V L L Y
Y O O O Y D L C R M T Y U E Y H P
L J S R F P K S B A R K O I O Q Q
V T T A W G S D I R V S U N B V W
J J L S M X V X T K W A M Y E Z B
V I Y O R C N W A E K B S U H K W
M X T N E D M Z N T I O R J S X K
Z O J G F S B X T H B R T E E J I
BUNDLE / COSTEFFECTIVE / COSTLY / DAYLIGHT / EASY / EXORBITANT / INEXPENSIVE / LOWEND / MONEY / NOTHING / RIPPEDOFF
/ FORASONG / UPMARKET
SET II
1. Matching task
Match the words with the proper de nitions/sentences.
earth / invaluable / house / means / love / downmarket / dear / stung / peanuts / ransom / beyond / high-end / excessive
2. Multiple choice
Choose the word or phrase whose meaning is the closest to that in the de nition/sentence.
1. used to describe products which are the most expensive in a particular market or range high-end / a ordable / downmarket /
worth the money
2. if something is very cheap it is within one's ... means / pocket / arm and a leg / fortune
3. if something is very cheap it costs ... the earth / peanuts / a bundle / a hole in your pocket
4. extremely useful and beyond calculable value low-end / invaluable / freebie / nix
5. involving goods that are cheap and not very good quality compared to similar goods downmarket / bundled / gratuitous /
short-changed
6. if something is provided free by the seller it is said to be on the … budget / pocket / house / bargain
7. if something is very expensive it costs the ... earth / kicks / means / dust
8. if something is very expensive it is worth a king's ... nose / fortune / gold dust / ransom
9. if something is very expensive if you buy it you are ... pennyworth / easy on the pocket / stung / a ordable
10. if something is very expensive to have it you need to pay ... your means at / beyond / within / o
11. used to talk about something that is expensive dear / pennyworth / cost-e ective / retail
12. used to describe something such as a price, amount of money etc. that is much more than is reasonable or necessary inexpensive /
bargain / excessive / ripped o
13. if something is very cheap you can have it for ... love / devil / a white elephant / a packet
3. Correct or wrong
Assess if the de nitions/sentences provided for the words and phrases are correct or wrong.
3. excessive - used to describe something such as a price, amount of money etc. that is much more than is reasonable or necessary
5. high-end - used to describe products which are the most expensive in a particular market or range
6. love - if something is very cheap you can have it for ...
10. downmarket - involving goods that are cheap and not very good quality compared to similar goods
11. stung - if something is very expensive if you buy it you are ...
4. Scrambled words
Rearrange the letters on the right to form the words or phrases practised in the lesson. The meaning of the word must comply with the
de nition/sentence.
5. Word search
Find the words from the list on the left in the word search square. You can read the words horizontally or vertically. Letters can be
arranged in direction i.e.: → ↓.
A B L C W S H J E Y I M H Z J M E
E N W C X T O D L S B I F M Q D X
V B E Z E U U M N I X C O L U V C
Q W S V Z N S X V K F Y E Y L P E
H N M G W G E I R G D D T U W V S
I N V A L U A B L E E W Z P N D S
P E A N U T S V L M A D Z Z G E I
Z X P W Y X P P U B R H B A J O V
K I N G S R A N S O M D C J M S E
S D L R W Q D N G V S K B L N A R
D W U B C N O M H M E A N S E K Z
D O W N M A R K E T Q B R I U W D
R G Q O F O R L O V E N L R X F E
G G Q P G C C G H I G H E N D U A
I L K L D U G W E M X Q C D V M R
G A F R I W I U U A K U R O Y O T
Z Z T Q H B E Y O N D U W A G Z H
BEYOND / DEAR / DOWNMARKET / EARTH / EXCESSIVE / FORLOVE / HIGHEND / HOUSE / INVALUABLE / KINGSRANSOM / MEANS
/ PEANUTS / STUNG
SET III
1. Matching task
Match the words with the proper de nitions/sentences.
priceless / within / premium / bargain / leg / bomb / devil / steep / pricey / low-budget / done / kicks / dust
u sed to describe products of higher quality than usual which are, as a result, more expensive than others
if something is very expensive and desired it is like gold ...
relatively low in price usually because it was possible to produce it cheaply
extremely valuable in other words
something you buy cheaply or for less than its usual price
if something is very cheap you can have it for …
if something is very expensive it costs a ...
if something is very expensive it costs an arm and a ...
if something is very expensive if you buy it you are ...
if something is very expensive when you buy it you pay the ...
used to describe prices, charges etc., which are unusually high
if something is very cheap it is ... anyone's reach
2. Multiple choice
Choose the word or phrase whose meaning is the closest to that in the de nition/sentence.
1. if something is very expensive it costs an arm and a ... ransom / bundle / penny / leg
3. used to describe products of higher quality than usual which are, as a result, more expensive than others stung / premium / white /
exorbitant
4. if something is very cheap you can have it for … dust / kicks / eye-watering / high-ticket
5. if something is very expensive if you buy it you are ... bombed / sky-high / done / on the house
6. if something is very cheap it is ... anyone's reach like / within / superior to / for
7. if something is very expensive and desired it is like gold ... elephant / dust / song / love
8. something you buy cheaply or for less than its usual price asking / premium / bargain / asking
9. if something is very expensive when you buy it you pay the ... devil / house / upmarket / nix
10. used to describe prices, charges etc., which are unusually high a ordable / precious / pennyworth / steep
11. relatively low in price usually because it was possible to produce it cheaply pretty penny / high-ticket / short-changed /
low-budget
3. Correct or wrong
Assess if the de nitions/sentences provided for the words and phrases are correct or wrong.
2. dust - if something is very expensive and desired it is like desert ...
3. steep - used to describe prices, charges etc., which are unusually high
5. premium - used to describe products of higher quality than usual which are, as a result, more expensive than others
8. low-budget - relatively low in price usually because it was possible to produce it cheaply
11. devil - if something is very expensive when you buy it you pay the ...
12. done - if something is very expensive if you buy it you are ...
4. Scrambled words
Rearrange the letters on the right to form the words or phrases practised in the lesson. The meaning of the word must comply with the
de nition/sentence.
s omething you buy cheaply or for less than its usual price arnbgai
if something is very expensive and desired it is like gold ... dstu
if something is very expensive it costs an arm and a ... elg
if something is very cheap it is ... anyone's reach iihnwt
if something is very expensive when you buy it you pay the ... dveil
extremely valuable in other words spleisrec
if something is very expensive it costs a ... mbob
if something is very expensive if you buy it you are ... odne
used to describe prices, charges etc., which are unusually high esetp
expensive in other words ripecy
used to describe products of higher quality than usual which are, as a result, more expensive than others meruimp
relatively low in price usually because it was possible to produce it cheaply webutgdol-
if something is very cheap you can have it for … kiksc
5. Word search
Find the words from the list on the left in the word search square. You can read the words horizontally or vertically. Letters can be
arranged in direction i.e.: → ↓.
Y F V Y W E D P P D B D P A C S I
P D E N W R G R R E A T V F B T U
I A Q O Q Q F I I V R F M N L E M
C P P U F A K C C I G Y U K W E O
P R E M I U M E E L A P N Y N P W
P Q O Z Q C B L Y Q I X R U X U L
O X E S Z L O E O T N Q U H F A O
B O M B S Q R S H P X U N O B H W
K I C K S J Z S G S M F G D X W B
W I T H I N R E A C H S P L M D U
C Q R A X X P W T B X T Z Y F O D
U Q T T E O A V G A R A D E I N G
M O H Y G B Z D U V S V U H D E E
T V D R J B L E G Y N N S T K U T
W D S P U C O Y Q S R G T E H S Z
K O R D Y M P E W G O Z Q S N T P
U J T Y N C S K V V S Z A Q D Q U
BARGAIN / BOMB / DEVIL / DONE / DUST / KICKS / LEG / LOWBUDGET / PREMIUM / PRICELESS / PRICEY / STEEP / WITHINREACH
SET IV
1. Matching task
Match the words with the proper de nitions/sentences.
overrated / fortune / changed / sky-high / superior / retail / freebie / nix / hole / pennyworth / nose / a ordable / pretty / had
2. Multiple choice
Choose the word or phrase whose meaning is the closest to that in the de nition/sentence.
1. used to describe things whose prices are reasonable and most people have enough money to buy them eye-watering / stung /
devilish / a ordable
2. if something is very cheap you can have it for ... a white elephant / your means / nix / a rip-o
3. if something is very expensive it makes a ... in your pocket bundle / hole / weight / low-end
4. used to describe something that is extremely high e.g. prices gratuitous / wholesale / inexpensive / sky-high
5. used to describe something that is better, more powerful, of better quality etc. than a similar thing a ordable / gold / bomb /
superior
7. if something is very expensive you will be short-... if you buy it itemed / e ective / changed / ripped
8. the sale of goods to customers for their own use rather than to shops etc. wholesale / retail / upmarket / high-end
9. if something is very expensive and you still decide to get it you are … beyond / had / holed / bundled
10. something that you are given for free, e.g. to encourage you to buy more of the same thing or buy something else freebie / item /
kick / peanut
11. if something is very expensive it costs a ... penny pretty / dear / steep / gold
12. used to describe something such as a price which has been too highly assessed or evaluated inexpensive / gratuitous / overrated /
economical
13. things which are cheap or that you could buy with a penny dust / daylight / pennyworth / pricey
14. if something is very expensive you have to pay through the ... for it nose / house / hole / earth
3. Correct or wrong
Assess if the de nitions/sentences provided for the words and phrases are correct or wrong.
2. retail - the sale of goods to customers for their own use rather than to shops etc.
3. overrated - used to describe something such as a price which has been too highly assessed or evaluated
4. a ordable - used to describe things whose prices are not reasonable and most people have not enough money to buy them
5. pretty - if you buy something very expensive it leaves you with a ... penny
6. changed - if something is very expensive you will be short-... if you buy it
7. nix - if something is very cheap you cannot have it for ...
9. freebie - something that you are given for free, e.g. to encourage you to buy more of the same thing or buy something else
10. nose - if something is very expensive you have to pay through the ... for it
11. pennyworth - things which are cheap or that you could buy with a penny
12. had - if something is very expensive and you still decide to get it you are …
13. superior - used to describe something that is worse, less powerful, of poorer quality etc. than a similar thing
4. Scrambled words
Rearrange the letters on the right to form the words or phrases practised in the lesson. The meaning of the word must comply with the
de nition/sentence.
i f something is very expensive and you still decide to get it you are … hda
if something is very cheap you can have it for ... ixn
something that you are given for free, e.g. to encourage you to buy more of the same thing or buy something else berfeie
if something is very expensive it makes a ... in your pocket hleo
if something is very expensive it costs a ... penny rtptey
used to describe something that is extremely high e.g. prices hhsyi-kg
used to describe something such as a price which has been too highly assessed or evaluated adervtero
used to describe something that is better, more powerful, of better quality etc. than a similar thing oseripur
used to describe things whose prices are reasonable and most people have enough money to buy them faoaebrdlf
things which are cheap or that you could buy with a penny rynteowhnp
if something is very expensive it is worth a ... ruonfet
if something is very expensive you have to pay through the ... for it neso
if something is very expensive you will be short-... if you buy it gnhcead
the sale of goods to customers for their own use rather than to shops etc. atrlei
5. Word search
Find the words from the list on the left in the word search square. You can read the words horizontally or vertically. Letters can be
arranged in direction i.e.: → ↓. Right click on your mouse and hold it till you cover the whole word or phrase.
K Q S X P P C U G N R E T A I L P
J W O C L R H G B I P F G E F B E
N V T P Z E A L J X V I N T R S N
U D M H Q T N S K Y H I G H E O N
N S U A N T G U S F O C Z S E R Y
D Q T D O Y E V W P R A Q U B T W
T M U Y H H D B T P G U Y P I N O
F O R T U N E Y C O N E D E E N R
X Y F S F J O L N Z H B S R G U T
Z V Y C Z N X F A G O I V I V J H
A F F O R D A B L E L R V O L D H
U J P B O E L F S P E H C R Y P P
V I C K M W G V J H R X M E Z K U
D L D T W I G E D U S H R G A F A
S G C G Y C A N O S E E L H P T A
Y U E K K X U A G F Z T V J M A Q
O V E R R A T E D W Z E R B T T G
AFFORDABLE / CHANGED / FORTUNE / FREEBIE / HAD / HOLE / NIX / NOSE / OVERRATED / PENNYWORTH / PRETTY / RETAIL / SKYHIGH
/ SUPERIOR
SET V
1. Matching task
Match the words with the proper de nitions/sentences.
hurts / a ord / precious / item / elephant / economical / watering / gratuitous / asking / packet / wholesale / high-ticket / overpriced
/ weight
2. Multiple choice
Choose the word or phrase whose meaning is the closest to that in the de nition/sentence.
1. used to describe something valuable and worth a lot of money the asking / precious / love / peanut
2. if something is very cheap you can have it at ... prices dust / eye-watering / high-ticket / wholesale
3. a single thing especially something that is for sale means / bargain / item / freebie
4. using money, time etc. carefully and without wasting any upmarket / excessive / economical / precious
5. if something is very cheap you can have it for the ... dust / packet / asking / devil
6. to have enough money to buy or pay for something short-change / a ord / overrate / rip o
8. if something is very expensive it is worth its ... in gold love / weight / budget / price
9. an informal expression used for very expensive products on the house / worth the money / downmarket / high-ticket
10. if something is very expensive it ... your pocket hurts / rips o / stings / weighs
11. something such as a price, which is extremely unpleasant is also called eye-… making / changing / watering / worth
12. if something is very expensive when you want to have it you buy a white ... devil / elephant / dust / bundle
13. given or done without receiving anything in return economical / low-budget / king’s ransom / gratuitous
14. used to describe something whose price is more expensive than it should be overpriced / a ordable / within your means /
cost-e ective
3. Correct or wrong
Assess if the de nitions/sentences provided for the words and phrases are correct or wrong.
1. watering - something such as a price, which is extremely attractive is also called eye-…
2. wholesale - if something is very cheap you can have it at ... prices
4. economical - using money, time etc. carefully and without wasting any
10. asking - if something is very desirable you cannot have it for the ...
11. weight - if something is very expensive it is worth its ... in gold
13. precious - used to describe something valuable and worth a lot of money
14. elephant - if something is very expensive when you want to have it you feed a white ...
4. Scrambled words
Rearrange the letters on the right to form the words or phrases practised in the lesson. The meaning of the word must comply with the
de nition/sentence.
i f something is very cheap you can have it at ... prices owlhaeesl
an informal expression used for very expensive products ihh-tkiectg
if something is very expensive it is worth its ... in gold ewtghi
given or done without receiving anything in return raotsuitug
something such as a price, which is extremely unpleasant is also called eye-… rgtnawie
if something is very expensive when you want to have it you buy a white ... peanhetl
using money, time etc. carefully and without wasting any ecmialonoc
to have enough money to buy or pay for something odfrfa
if something is very expensive it costs a ... ekactp
if something is very cheap you can have it for the ... kasing
if something is very expensive it ... your pocket rusth
used to describe something whose price is more expensive than it should be voirpcerde
used to describe something valuable and worth a lot of money supecori
a single thing especially something that is for sale ietm
5. Word search
Find the words from the list on the left in the word search square. You can read the words horizontally or vertically. Letters can be
arranged in direction i.e.: → ↓.
V D Y O Y L T H B G Y I E W Y G K
F G T E E L E P H A N T Y H F C E
E D W W S S X W A J R H E O K U B
G R A T U I T O U S T I W L O Q M
S O W W J S P W N L D G A E B L V
A F F O R D A Z P I I H T S D M F
W E I G H T C K F P D T E A U T B
H U R T S O K I G A F I R L V Y W
E A W Z K W E T E K Q C I E V X F
B Q W S C A T E G M H K N F F D U
L L Z K H N H M L E I E G E W L D
O V E R P R I C E D Q T D S H L S
P R E C I O U S O L G F S E L C I
E C O N O M I C A L I Q X J V B Z
J G Y J L B E Y P F I N E Q K Y L
S Z W O L I Q H B I F C D E E C Q
A E N F W A S K I N G Y I Z U O G
AFFORD / ASKING / ECONOMICAL / ELEPHANT / GRATUITOUS / HIGHTICKET / HURTS / ITEM / OVERPRICED / PACKET / PRECIOUS
/ EYEWATERING / WEIGHT / WHOLESALE
Table Of Contents
SET I 2
1. Matching task 2
2. Multiple choice 3
3. Correct or wrong 4
4. Scrambled words 5
5. Word search 6
SET II 7
1. Matching task 7
2. Multiple choice 8
3. Correct or wrong 9
4. Scrambled words 10
5. Word search 11
SET III 12
1. Matching task 12
2. Multiple choice 13
3. Correct or wrong 14
4. Scrambled words 15
5. Word search 16
SET IV 17
1. Matching task 17
2. Multiple choice 18
3. Correct or wrong 19
4. Scrambled words 20
5. Word search 21
SET V 22
1. Matching task 22
2. Multiple choice 23
3. Correct or wrong 24
4. Scrambled words 25
5. Word search 26
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