Have you ever heard someone say something costs “an arm and a leg”? It doesn’t mean you really give your body parts away. It’s just a fun way of saying something is very expensive. Idioms like these help people describe costs without using numbers or money words. They make conversations more colorful and interesting.
In this article, you will learn some common idioms people use to talk about things that cost a lot. You might hear them when adults talk about buying houses, cars, or even tickets to a concert. After reading, you’ll understand what they really mean and how to use them yourself. Let’s see how words can show us when something is too pricey without mentioning any numbers at all.
Idioms for Expensive
1. Costs an arm and a leg
Meaning: Something is very expensive.
For Example: That new video game costs an arm and a leg. / Getting tickets to the Super Bowl costs an arm and a leg.
Alternatively: Very expensive / Costs a lot
2. Costs a fortune
Meaning: Something is extremely expensive.
For Example: Their new house costs a fortune. / Eating at that fancy restaurant costs a fortune.
Alternatively: Very costly / Super expensive
3. Costs a pretty penny
Meaning: Costs a lot of money.
For Example: The new iPhone costs a pretty penny. / Going to Disneyland can cost a pretty penny.
Alternatively: Expensive / Costs a lot
4. Break the bank
Meaning: Spending more money than you have or can afford.
For Example: Buying a car shouldn’t break the bank. / The birthday party decorations don’t need to break the bank.
Alternatively: Spend too much / Go over budget
5. Pay through the nose
Meaning: Paying too much money for something.
For Example: Mom had to pay through the nose for groceries this week. / People are paying through the nose for concert tickets.
Alternatively: Overpay / Pay too much
6. High-priced
Meaning: Something costs a lot of money.
For Example: That high-priced jacket isn’t worth it. / Those high-priced sneakers sold out fast.
Alternatively: Expensive / Costly
7. Top dollar
Meaning: Paying the highest possible price.
For Example: They paid top dollar for front-row concert seats. / Grandpa sold his antique car for top dollar.
Alternatively: Highest price / Full price
8. Costly
Meaning: Very expensive.
For Example: Repairing the roof can be very costly. / That costly phone cracked the first week.
Alternatively: Expensive / High cost
9. Steep price
Meaning: An unusually high price.
For Example: The tickets have a steep price. / That candy store charges a steep price.
Alternatively: High price / Too expensive
10. Pricey
Meaning: Expensive.
For Example: Those shoes are too pricey. / Disney World can be a bit pricey.
Alternatively: Costly / Not cheap
11. Overpriced
Meaning: Something costs more than it should.
For Example: The toys at the airport are overpriced. / That amusement park food is overpriced.
Alternatively: Too expensive / Not worth it
12. Sky-high
Meaning: Very expensive or extremely high-priced.
For Example: Gas prices are sky-high this month. / The rent for apartments is sky-high.
Alternatively: Very high / Extremely costly
13. Outrageous
Meaning: Shockingly high in price.
For Example: The cost of parking at the airport is outrageous. / That restaurant charges outrageous prices.
Alternatively: Too high / Unfair price
14. Not cheap
Meaning: Something is expensive.
For Example: A trip to the zoo is fun but not cheap. / Eating out every night is not cheap.
Alternatively: Expensive / Costs a lot
15. Fancy price tag
Meaning: Very expensive.
For Example: Those sunglasses come with a fancy price tag. / The latest game system has a fancy price tag.
Alternatively: High cost / Expensive
16. Premium price
Meaning: Higher than usual cost.
For Example: Organic fruits come with a premium price. / They paid a premium price for VIP seats.
Alternatively: Higher cost / Extra price
17. Big bucks
Meaning: A large amount of money.
For Example: She earned big bucks babysitting. / Those sneakers cost big bucks.
Alternatively: Lots of money / High amount
18. Gold-plated
Meaning: So expensive, it seems covered in gold.
For Example: That gold-plated phone is not needed. / They sell gold-plated headphones at the mall.
Alternatively: Very expensive / Fancy cost
19. King’s ransom
Meaning: An extremely high price.
For Example: Tickets to that show cost a king’s ransom. / That vacation will cost a king’s ransom.
Alternatively: Huge cost / Very expensive
20. Burning a hole in your pocket
Meaning: Money that’s tempting you to spend.
For Example: Birthday money is burning a hole in her pocket. / His allowance burns a hole in his pocket.
Alternatively: Want to spend / Hard to save
21. Wallet-buster
Meaning: Something very expensive that quickly uses up your money.
For Example: Those new headphones are a wallet-buster. / Buying school supplies can be a wallet-buster.
Alternatively: Very expensive / Drains money
22. Through the roof
Meaning: Prices that are extremely high.
For Example: Gas prices have gone through the roof. / Home prices have gone through the roof.
Alternatively: Very high / Extremely expensive
23. Heavy on the pocket
Meaning: Costs more money than comfortable to spend.
For Example: Eating lunch at that café is heavy on the pocket. / Buying snacks at the movies is heavy on the pocket.
Alternatively: Costly / Hard to afford
24. Budget buster
Meaning: Something expensive that ruins a planned budget.
For Example: Fixing the car became a budget buster. / The new console was a budget buster.
Alternatively: Too expensive / Breaks budget
25. A chunk of change
Meaning: A large amount of money.
For Example: That new bicycle cost a chunk of change. / My parents spent a chunk of change on the kitchen.
Alternatively: Big amount / Lots of money
26. Sticker shock
Meaning: Surprise at the high price of something.
For Example: Dad got sticker shock looking at cars. / Mom had sticker shock at grocery prices.
Alternatively: Price surprise / Shocked by cost
27. Deep pockets
Meaning: Having lots of money to spend.
For Example: You need deep pockets to buy that boat. / They must have deep pockets to live there.
Alternatively: Rich / Lots of money
28. Splurge
Meaning: Spend extra money on something special.
For Example: She decided to splurge on a new backpack. / Our family splurged on dinner.
Alternatively: Spend more / Treat yourself
29. Drain the wallet
Meaning: Spend most or all of your money.
For Example: Buying textbooks drained my wallet. / Shopping drained her wallet.
Alternatively: Spend it all / Use all money
30. Big-ticket
Meaning: Items that cost a lot of money.
For Example: Buying a TV is a big-ticket item. / Furniture is a big-ticket purchase.
Alternatively: Expensive item / High cost
31. On the pricey side
Meaning: Slightly expensive.
For Example: The hamburgers there are on the pricey side. / Her dress was on the pricey side.
Alternatively: A bit expensive / Not cheap
32. Hard-earned cash
Meaning: Money earned by working hard, used carefully.
For Example: He spent his hard-earned cash on a scooter. / Mom said it wasn’t worth her hard-earned cash.
Alternatively: Earned money / Saved money
33. Money pit
Meaning: Something that keeps costing money without end.
For Example: The old car turned into a money pit. / Fixing the house became a money pit.
Alternatively: Keeps costing / Never-ending cost
34. Bleeding money
Meaning: Losing or spending money very fast.
For Example: Our family is bleeding money with repairs. / They’re bleeding money on lessons.
Alternatively: Losing money / Spending fast
35. High-end
Meaning: Luxurious and very expensive.
For Example: That high-end store sells fancy clothes. / They went to a high-end restaurant.
Alternatively: Luxury / Expensive
36. Cost a bundle
Meaning: Something that is very expensive.
For Example: That laptop cost a bundle. / Renting that cabin cost a bundle.
Alternatively: Very costly / Expensive
37. Spend a mint
Meaning: Spending a very large amount of money.
For Example: She spent a mint on gifts. / They spent a mint traveling.
Alternatively: Spend a lot / Use lots of money
38. Luxury price
Meaning: Extremely high cost for fancy items.
For Example: That watch has a luxury price. / Those shoes have a luxury price.
Alternatively: High cost / Fancy price
39. Pocket drainer
Meaning: Something that quickly takes your money away.
For Example: Video games can be a pocket drainer. / Visiting the fair is a pocket drainer.
Alternatively: Drains money / Costs a lot
40. Blow money
Meaning: To spend money without thinking about the cost.
For Example: He blew money on snacks. / She blew money on toys.
Alternatively: Waste money / Spend freely
Idioms for Expensive: True/False Quiz
1. If something “costs an arm and a leg,” it is very cheap.
(True/False)
2. If your friend says tickets to a concert cost a “pretty penny,” they mean the tickets are expensive.
(True/False)
3. If something is “overpriced,” it means the price is lower than usual.
(True/False)
4. When your mom says groceries are “through the roof,” she means they cost a lot more now.
(True/False)
5. If someone has “deep pockets,” they don’t have much money to spend.
(True/False)
6. Buying popcorn at a movie theater can sometimes be a “wallet-buster,” meaning it’s costly.
(True/False)
7. “Splurging” means spending very little money.
(True/False)
8. If your dad had “sticker shock” when looking at cars, he was surprised at how expensive they were.
(True/False)
9. A “budget buster” is something that fits easily within your spending plan.
(True/False)
10. Saying something “cost a fortune” means it was very expensive.
(True/False)
Answers Key
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
You learned many idioms that describe something expensive. Idioms make conversations more interesting and fun. Now when someone says a toy or a ticket costs an “arm and a leg,” you know exactly what they mean.
Try using these idioms when you talk with family and friends. It will make your speech colorful and help others understand exactly how you feel about prices. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll use idioms without even thinking about it.
