Low-rent first talked about housing that costs little to rent — cheap rooms, cheap streets. People still use it that way, but often with a sour edge: not just 'not expensive', but 'cheap in a sad or ugly way'.

Low-rent first最早 talked about講的是 costs little to rent租金花不了多少錢 housing的住房——cheap rooms便宜的房間、cheap streets便宜的街區。People人們 still仍然 use it that way這樣用它，but但 often常 with a sour edge帶著酸味：not just不只是 'not expensive'「不貴」，but而是 'cheap in a sad or ugly way'「便宜得有點淒涼或難看」

Then the word jumped off houses and onto almost anything — a low-rent TV show, a low-rent lawyer, a low-rent trick. In that stretched use it means tacky and not respectable; you are looking down on it.

Then後來 the word這個詞 jumped off houses從房子上跳開 and onto almost anything、落到幾乎任何東西上——a low-rent TV show一個低檔的電視節目、a low-rent lawyer一個不入流的律師、a low-rent trick一個廉價的把戲。In that stretched use在那個延伸用法裡 it means它指 tacky俗氣 and not respectable、上不了檯面；you你 are looking down on it是在看低它

It is informal, a bit American, and it always carries disapproval. You would not put it in a polite essay about homes people can afford. Though actually, if you only mean 'the rent is low' in a kind way, speakers more often say cheap rent or affordable, and keep low-rent for the unkind judgement.

It它 is informal不正式、a bit American有點美式，and it always carries disapproval而且總是帶著不以為然。about homes people can afford談民眾負擔得起的住宅 in a polite essay的正式文章裡，You你 would not put it不會把它放進去。Though actually不過其實，if you如果你 in a kind way好意地 only mean只是要說 'the rent is low'「租金很低」，speakers說話的人 more often say更常說 cheap rent or affordable cheap rent 或 affordable，and而 keep low-rent把 low-rent for the unkind judgement留給不客氣的評價