All phrases › cost an arm and a leg
What does “cost an arm and a leg” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
C1
To be very expensive
“That renovation cost an arm and a leg.”
Say it smoothly: “cost-an-arm-anda-leg”
From the C1 lesson Tightening the Belt (money idioms).
Quick check
What does “cost an arm and a leg” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“cost an arm and a leg” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel).
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Related phrases
- break the bankto cost far more than you can afford (often ‘won't break the bank’)
- money talkshaving money gives you power or influence
- born with a silver spoon in your mouthborn into wealth and privilege
- daylight robberya price that feels outrageously, almost dishonestly high
- a drop in the oceana very small amount compared to what's needed
- throw money at a problemto try to solve a problem by spending rather than real effort
- live from pay check to pay checkto spend almost everything you earn each month, with no savings
- money to burnso much spare money that you can spend freely
- rein in your spendingto deliberately start spending less