- To pay an excessive amount of money for something; to pay much more than is fair or reasonable.
Explanation
Origin
Origin is uncertain, dating back to the late 17th century. Several theories exist:
- One popular but likely apocryphal story involves a 9th-century poll tax imposed by the Norse in Ireland, where non-payers supposedly had their noses slit. Paying the tax avoided this punishment, hence 'paying through the nose'.
- Another theory relates it to bleeding from the nose due to stress or exertion (of paying).
- It might simply be a strong, slightly absurd hyperbole for paying dearly.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Get gouged (Charged an unfairly high price)
- Get fleeced (Be cheated out of money)
- Pay out the wazoo (US slang, pay excessively)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Get fucked on the price
- Pay a shitload
Milder/Formal:
- Pay an exorbitant price
- Be charged excessively
- Incur unreasonable costs
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal. A common idiom.
- Acceptable in most everyday conversations. Avoid in very formal contexts where a more neutral term like overcharged or paid excessively would be better.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Highly idiomatic. The literal image is bizarre and unrelated to the meaning. Learners must memorize it as meaning pay excessively.
Examples
- We paid through the nose for those concert tickets from a scalper.
- If you buy souvenirs right by the tourist trap, you'll end up paying through the nose.
- He needed the repair done urgently, so he had to pay through the nose.
Dialogue
Chris: How was the airport taxi ride?
Dana: Don't ask! There was surge pricing because of the rain. I ended up paying through the nose just to get home.
Chris: Oh no, that's the worst! Did you try checking a ride-share app?
Dana: I did, but they were just as bad. I just wanted to get home, so I paid it. Never again!
Social Media Examples
- Twitter: Needed plumber on a Sunday. Had to pay through the nose, but at least the leak is fixed. #homeownerproblems #expensive
- Facebook comment: Don't buy drinks inside the festival grounds unless you want to pay through the nose!
- Reddit post: Anyone else feel like they paid through the nose for their car in the current market?
Response Patterns
- Sympathy/Agreement: Oh, that's rough!, They really rip you off there., I hate when that happens.
- Inquiry: How much did it end up costing?, Why was it so expensive?
- Shared experience: Yeah, I paid through the nose for [something similar] once.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- People might ask for the actual price paid.
- Discussion might focus on why the price was so high (e.g., scarcity, location, urgency, unfair pricing).
- Might lead to advice on how to avoid such situations in the future.
Conversation Starter
- No. A comment about a specific instance of overpaying.
Intonation
- Usually said with annoyance, frustration, or resignation about the high cost.
- Stress falls on PAY, THROUGH, and NOSE.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations, although perhaps slightly less common among very young speakers compared to ripped off or cost an arm and a leg.
Regional Variations
- Common in all major English-speaking regions.