verb phrase🎓 English idiom

cost an arm and a leg

to be very expensive

What it means

To be extremely expensive; to cost a very large amount of money. It's an exaggerated, informal way to complain about a high price.

Examples

  • These concert tickets cost an arm and a leg, but it was worth it.
  • Repairing the old car would cost an arm and a leg.
  • A house near the beach can cost an arm and a leg.
  • I'd love that watch, but it costs an arm and a leg.

Where it comes from

An American expression from the mid-20th century. The exact origin is uncertain, but it builds on older phrases that measured a steep price in body parts, suggesting you'd give almost anything to afford it.

Related idioms

#pay through the nose#a dime a dozen#make ends meet#there's no such thing as a free lunch

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