How do you use "Cost an Arm and a Leg" in a sentence?

That holiday will cost an arm and a leg. Medical bills cost an arm and a leg. Nice, but it'd cost an arm and a leg. University costs an arm and a leg these days.

Cost an Arm and a Leg

Q: What does "Cost an Arm and a Leg" mean?

Extremely expensive To cost so much it's like paying with body parts. Vivid expression for something prohibitively expensive.

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: Extremely expensive

非常贵、贵得要命

Extremadamente caro

法外に高い

터무니없이 비싼

To cost so much it's like paying with body parts. Vivid expression for something prohibitively expensive.

贵到像用身体部位付款一样。生动的表达，形容某东西贵得令人望而却步。

Costar tanto que es como pagar con partes del cuerpo. Expresión vívida para algo prohibitivamente caro.

体の一部で払うほど高い。非常に高いものを表す鮮やかな表現。

팔다리를 내놓아야 할 정도로 비싸다는 과장된 표현. 감당하기 어려울 만큼 비싼 것을 생생하게 나타낸다.

Literal meaning: Cost one's arm and leg as payment.

Examples

That holiday will cost an arm and a leg.
那个假期会贵得要命。
Esas vacaciones costarán un ojo de la cara.
あの休暇は高くつくよ。
그 휴가는 엄청나게 비쌀 거야.
Medical bills cost an arm and a leg.
医疗费贵得要命。
Las facturas médicas cuestan un ojo de la cara.
医療費は法外に高い。
병원비가 터무니없이 비싸.
Nice, but it'd cost an arm and a leg.
漂亮，但会贵得要命。
Bonito, pero costaría un ojo de la cara.
いいけど、すごく高くつくよ。
좋긴 한데, 돈이 엄청 들 거야.
University costs an arm and a leg these days.
现在上大学贵得要命。
La universidad cuesta un ojo de la cara hoy en día.
最近大学は法外に高い。
요즘 대학 등록금이 터무니없이 비싸.

Pronunciation

/kɒst ən ɑːm ænd ə leɡ/

Usage Guide

Context: expensive things, exaggeration

Tone: dramatic, emphatic

✓ Do Say

Costs an arm and a leg.
贵得要命
Cuesta un ojo de la cara
法外に高い
엄청나게 비싸.
It'll cost you an arm and a leg.
会花你一大笔钱
Te costará un ojo de la cara
すごく高くつくよ
돈이 엄청 들 거야.
That cost an arm and a leg.
那花了一大笔钱
Eso costó un ojo de la cara
すごく高かった
돈이 엄청 들었어.

✗ Don't Say

Very common expression
非常常见的表达
Expresión muy común
とてもよく使う表現
매우 흔한 표현
Hyperbolic—don't use for mildly expensive
夸张的——不要用于稍微贵的东西
Hiperbólico—no usar para cosas moderadamente caras
誇張的——少し高いだけのものには使わない
과장법이므로 약간 비싼 것에는 쓰지 않음

Common Mistakes

Hyperbolic expression
Reserve for truly expensive things

Origin & History

American expression from post-WWII, possibly referencing the price veterans paid. The vivid imagery emphasizes extreme cost.

Etymology: Possibly from wartime sacrifice imagery

First recorded: American expression from 1940s

Cultural Context

Era: 1940s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common in cost-of-living discussions; Universal English expression

Regional notes: American origin, now universal.

Variations

Cost an arm and a legCosts an arm and a legPay an arm and a leg