0471 Cost an arm and a leg

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[0471] Cost an arm and a leg

Explanation

To be extremely expensive.

Origin

Idiom emerged after World War II, becoming common in the mid-20th century.

Theories about its origin vary:

Hyperbole referencing the high cost (literal limbs) soldiers paid in war.
Possible connection to portrait painting, where including limbs cost more.
Simple exaggeration – having to give up valuable body parts to afford something.

The core idea is that the price is prohibitively high, requiring a great sacrifice.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Cost a grip (US slang, 'grip' meaning a large amount of money)
Cost serious coin
Big bucks / Mega bucks
Pricy / Pricey

Vulgar/Emphatic:

Cost a fucking fortune
Expensive as hell / Expensive as fuck

Milder/Formal:

Very expensive
Costly
Prohibitively expensive
A significant expense

Situational Appropriateness

Informal to semi-formal. It's a common idiom understood by most native speakers.
While informal, it's generally acceptable in most everyday conversations, even in many workplaces depending on the culture. Avoid in very formal reports or presentations.

Misunderstanding Warnings

Highly idiomatic. Non-native speakers might be confused by the literal image of body parts. The meaning of very expensive needs to be learned.

Examples

That new car must have cost him an arm and a leg.
Getting the roof repaired is going to cost an arm and a leg.
I'd love to go to Japan, but the flights cost an arm and a leg.

Dialogue

Sam: Wow, nice watch! Is it new?

Tina: Yeah, I treated myself for my birthday.

Sam: It looks amazing! Must have cost an arm and a leg, though?

Tina: (Smiling wryly) Let's just say I won't be buying much else this month! But I love it.

Response Patterns

Agreement/Empathy: Tell me about it!, I know, prices are crazy., Yeah, no kidding.
Inquiry: Really? How much was it?, Was it worth it?
Sharing similar experience: Yeah, I looked into that too, way too expensive.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

People might ask for the actual price if appropriate.
Discussion might turn to the value received for the high cost, or alternatives.
The person who spent the money might justify the expense.

Conversation Starter

No. Usually a comment *about* the price of something specific.

Intonation

Often said with emphasis, sometimes with a sigh or whistle to indicate the high price.
Stress typically falls on ARM and LEG. Can also stress COST. It COST an ARM and a LEG.

Generation Differences

Widely understood and used across all generations. A staple idiom.

Regional Variations

Very common in American English. Also widely used and understood in UK, Canada, Australia, etc.

Have a chinwag

🎲 Break the bank

[0471] Cost an arm and a leg