cost an arm and a leg
To be very expensive
직역: to pay with one arm and one leg
Use this phrase to complain or joke about high prices in casual, everyday English conversations.
15초 만에
- Used to describe something that is very expensive.
- A common hyperbolic idiom for daily life.
- Best for casual or semi-formal conversations.
뜻
If something costs an arm and a leg, it is extremely expensive. It suggests that the price is so high you would have to give up a part of your body to pay for it.
주요 예문
3 / 6Complaining about a new phone
I love the new iPhone, but it cost me an arm and a leg!
I love the new iPhone, but it was very expensive!
Discussing wedding plans
We wanted a flower wall, but it would have cost an arm and a leg.
We wanted a flower wall, but it would have been too pricey.
Professional but relaxed meeting
Upgrading the office software is going to cost an arm and a leg.
Upgrading the office software will be very costly.
문화적 배경
While many believe it refers to the cost of portraits in the 1700s, it actually gained massive popularity in the mid-20th century. It reflects the Western use of hyperbole (extreme exaggeration) to express frustration with inflation and high prices.
The Verb Choice
You can use either `cost` or `pay`. Use `cost` for the item (The car cost...) and `pay` for the person (I paid...).
Don't be Literal
Never use this in a medical context where someone actually lost a limb. It will be seen as a very dark and insensitive joke!
15초 만에
- Used to describe something that is very expensive.
- A common hyperbolic idiom for daily life.
- Best for casual or semi-formal conversations.
What It Means
Imagine you want to buy a new car. The price is so high that money isn't enough. You would need to trade your actual limbs! This idiom describes things that are very pricey. It is used for items that feel overpriced. It can also describe high-quality luxury goods. It is a colorful way to say expensive.
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like an adjective or a verb phrase. You can say something costs an arm and a leg. You can also say you paid an arm and a leg for it. It usually follows the subject of the sentence. For example: That watch cost an arm and a leg. It is perfect for complaining about bills. It also works for joking about your shopping habits.
When To Use It
Use this when you feel a price is shocking. It works great when talking to friends about rent. Use it at a restaurant if the wine is too pricey. It is perfect for casual office chats about vacations. Use it when you want to sound more natural and expressive. It adds a bit of drama to your story. Everyone loves a little drama when talking about money!
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very serious legal documents. Do not use it during a formal bank loan application. It might sound too dramatic if the item is actually cheap. Don't use it if someone is actually injured. That would be very awkward and confusing! Keep it for financial costs, not physical pain.
Cultural Background
Some people think it comes from 18th-century portrait painting. Famous people paid less if their limbs weren't in the picture! However, it likely became popular after World War II. Soldiers sacrificed a lot, and the phrase grew from that intensity. Today, it is a staple of English conversation. It reflects a culture that loves using hyperbole for emphasis.
Common Variations
You might hear people say it cost a small fortune. Some people say it cost a bomb in British English. Others might say it broke the bank. But an arm and a leg remains the most classic version. It is recognized in almost every English-speaking country. It is the 'gold standard' of expensive idioms.
사용 참고사항
This is a B1-level idiom that is highly versatile. It sits perfectly in the informal-to-neutral range, making it safe for 90% of daily interactions.
The Verb Choice
You can use either `cost` or `pay`. Use `cost` for the item (The car cost...) and `pay` for the person (I paid...).
Don't be Literal
Never use this in a medical context where someone actually lost a limb. It will be seen as a very dark and insensitive joke!
The 'Small Fortune' Alternative
If you want to sound slightly more sophisticated but still informal, try `it cost a small fortune`. It means the exact same thing!
예시
6I love the new iPhone, but it cost me an arm and a leg!
I love the new iPhone, but it was very expensive!
A classic use for modern technology prices.
We wanted a flower wall, but it would have cost an arm and a leg.
We wanted a flower wall, but it would have been too pricey.
Used to explain why a choice wasn't made due to cost.
Upgrading the office software is going to cost an arm and a leg.
Upgrading the office software will be very costly.
Shows it is acceptable in relaxed business settings.
The tickets cost an arm and a leg, but the show was worth it!
The tickets were pricey, but the show was great!
Commonly used in digital messaging.
This cocktail cost an arm and a leg; I'd better enjoy every drop!
This drink was expensive, so I should savor it.
Uses humor to highlight the high price of a small item.
The mechanic says the repairs will cost an arm and a leg.
The mechanic says the repairs are very expensive.
Expresses genuine financial stress through an idiom.
셀프 테스트
Complete the sentence to express that the hotel was too expensive.
The suite was beautiful, but it cost ___.
The standard idiom always uses 'arm' and 'leg' to represent high cost.
Choose the correct verb to use with the phrase.
I ___ an arm and a leg for these front-row seats.
While 'cost' is most common, 'paid' is used when the speaker is the one spending the money.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality Scale of 'Cost an arm and a leg'
Too common for street slang.
N/A
Perfect for friends and family.
That pizza cost an arm and a leg!
Good for casual work talk.
The flight cost an arm and a leg.
Too colorful for legal contracts.
The expenditure was significant.
Where to use 'Cost an arm and a leg'
Buying a House
Real estate here costs an arm and a leg.
Fine Dining
The steak cost an arm and a leg.
Tech Shopping
Laptops cost an arm and a leg lately.
Travel
Last-minute flights cost an arm and a leg.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Not at all! It is a very friendly and common way to complain about prices. Just avoid using it in extremely formal business reports.
Only if you are being sarcastic. If a $1 coffee is 'an arm and a leg,' people will know you are joking.
Yes, the idiom is a fixed pair. Saying just it cost an arm sounds incomplete and confusing to native speakers.
Yes, it is used globally in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. It is one of the most universal English idioms.
Technically people would understand you, but it sounds wrong. The order is almost always arm then leg.
You could say something costs peanuts or is dirt cheap. Those mean the item is very inexpensive.
It is better to avoid it there. Use more professional terms like significant investment or cost-prohibitive instead.
Very similar! Break the bank usually means you spent all your money, while cost an arm and a leg just emphasizes the high price.
No, this idiom is specifically for money. For time, you might say it took forever.
It has been around for a while, but it is still used every single day by people of all ages.
관련 표현
Break the bank
To use up all of one's money.
Cost a small fortune
To be very expensive.
Pay through the nose
To pay much more than something is worth.
Pricey
A simple adjective for expensive.
댓글 (0)
로그인하여 댓글 달기무료로 언어 학습 시작하기
무료로 학습 시작