the poor man's something
poor man's
A less desirable substitute for the genuine item. The local artist became known as the poor man's Picasso. I was happy with my new car, even though my friends called it a poor man's Jaguar.
See also: poor
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
the poor man's something
If you describe something as the poor man's something, you mean that it is similar to the second thing, but less expensive to buy or of lower quality. To some people, chicken livers are the poor man's foie gras. Note: People sometimes say that a person is the poor man's someone, meaning that they do something similar to that person, but not as well. Throughout his career Jason Bateman has been the poor man's Michael J. Fox.
See also: poor, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
the poor man's —
an inferior or cheaper substitute for the thing specified. 1991 Canberra Times Just as alarming is the prospect of FAEs, Fuel-Air Explosives… known as the poor man's atom bomb.
See also: poor
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- poor man's
- the poor man's
- a poor relation
- be the best of a bad bunch
- be the best of a bad lot
- kick upstairs, to
- things will work out
- the best of a bad bunch/lot
- best of a bad bunch
- best of a bad lot