- Idiom – Cost an arm and a leg or An arm and a leg
- Meaning – Very expensive. This expression is used when something costs a lot of money. This might be an expensive item or possibly something you pay too much money for.
- You wouldn’t give up an arm and a leg for any amount of money – this is probably where this idiom comes from.
- We can use an arm and a leg to refer to a large amount of money. I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a new car!
- Similarly we could say I’d give my right arm for (something). This expression is used when you really, really want something. I’d give my right arm for a brand new bimmer!
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- When you’ve spend too much money on something fancy or luxurious.
- If your holiday was very expensive.
- When you see someone with a new car or a new house.
- If you are looking at a friend’s engagement ring!
Example:
- “My engagement ring is beautiful! It must have cost my boyfriend an arm and a leg!”
In The News:
Test Drive: Volvo S90 T6 will cost you an arm and a leg, but could save your life
Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.