What’s the difference between cheating someone and cheating on someone? It can be a big one!

Basically, to cheat means to act dishonestly or unfairly, but there are different ways to cheat.

When someone cheats someone else, they deceive, trick, or scam them, often (but not always) for financial gain. In this case, they typically cheat them out of something, such as money.

Ex. That company cheated their clients out of millions of dollars.

When someone cheats on someone else, they are romantically unfaithful. They cheat on their partnerand cheat with someone else. 

Ex. My partner was cheating on me with my best friend.

You may also encounter other words following cheat as well, such as “Several students cheated on/in the test” (on is more common in American English) or “He tends to cheat at cards.” One can cheat on some kind of test or cheat at some kind of activity/game.