People use special words to talk about money and prices. When something costs a lot, we don’t always say, “It’s very expensive.” Instead, we sometimes use creative phrases. These phrases are called metaphors. A metaphor compares two things without using the words “like” or “as.” It helps make our ideas more fun and easier to picture.
Metaphors for expensive can sound silly or smart, but they all mean the same thing something costs a lot of money. You might hear someone say, “That phone costs an arm and a leg!” Of course, no one is really giving up an arm or leg. It just means the phone is really pricey. In this article, you’ll learn 45 metaphors that people use to talk about expensive things. You’ll also see how to use them in simple sentences.
Metaphors for Expensive
1. A king’s ransom
Meaning: Very expensive
For Example: That fancy watch costs a king’s ransom. / Their vacation to Hawaii was a king’s ransom.
Alternatively: That car cost more than a king’s treasure. / Dinner at that restaurant is like paying royal money.
2. Costs an arm and a leg
Meaning: Extremely pricey
For Example: My new laptop cost an arm and a leg. / That concert ticket costs an arm and a leg!
Alternatively: It’s like giving up your arms and legs for a phone.
3. A small fortune
Meaning: A large amount of money
For Example: Fixing the roof cost a small fortune. / That jacket costs a small fortune.
Alternatively: I spent a small fortune on that toy set.
4. Pricier than gold
Meaning: Very costly, even more than gold
For Example: These shoes are pricier than gold. / That necklace is more expensive than gold itself.
Alternatively: It’s like they wrapped it in gold!
5. Worth its weight in gold
Meaning: Very valuable
For Example: That phone is worth its weight in gold. / Her grandma’s ring is worth its weight in gold.
Alternatively: This old comic book is as good as gold.
6. Like burning money
Meaning: Spending a lot quickly
For Example: Buying that toy was like burning money. / Staying at that hotel felt like burning money.
Alternatively: That trip was just burning through our wallet.
7. Break the bank
Meaning: Too expensive to afford
For Example: Going to that movie every weekend will break the bank. / A new bike like that could break the bank.
Alternatively: I can’t buy that it’ll break the bank.
8. A hole in your wallet
Meaning: Costs too much
For Example: That video game made a hole in my wallet. / Eating out every day puts a hole in your wallet.
Alternatively: Buying snacks every day is like poking holes in my money.
9. A wallet-drainer
Meaning: Something that takes a lot of your money
For Example: That amusement park is a wallet-drainer. / Monthly game passes are wallet-drainers.
Alternatively: That new app drains my wallet fast.
10. Like throwing money down the drain
Meaning: Wasting money
For Example: That broken toy was like throwing money down the drain. / Paying for that show was money down the drain.
Alternatively: Buying those sneakers was just pouring cash into the trash.
11. Highway robbery
Meaning: Something is way too expensive
For Example: Ten dollars for a bottle of water? That’s highway robbery! / That fair game is highway robbery.
Alternatively: That snack costs so much it feels like being robbed!
12. Like buying the moon
Meaning: Very hard to afford
For Example: That fancy phone is like buying the moon. / Getting a new car is like buying the moon.
Alternatively: The price is so high, it might as well be from space.
13. A rich man’s toy
Meaning: Something only wealthy people can buy
For Example: That sports car is a rich man’s toy. / Private jets are rich man’s toys.
Alternatively: Only people with lots of money can afford that.
14. Bank-breaking
Meaning: Too expensive for your budget
For Example: That video game is bank-breaking. / College tuition is bank-breaking.
Alternatively: It would empty my savings.
15. Like gold-plated dreams
Meaning: Too expensive and fancy
For Example: That wedding dress is like gold-plated dreams. / Their house looks like gold-plated dreams.
Alternatively: It’s too sparkly for my wallet.
16. Heavy on the pocket
Meaning: Makes you spend too much
For Example: Eating out every day is heavy on the pocket. / That new toy is heavy on the pocket.
Alternatively: My allowance can’t handle that.
17. Premium price
Meaning: Costs more than usual
For Example: That pizza comes with a premium price. / We paid a premium price for those shoes.
Alternatively: It’s fancy, but not cheap.
18. Diamond-tagged
Meaning: Extremely costly
For Example: That dress is diamond-tagged. / Their jewelry is diamond-tagged.
Alternatively: The price looks like it’s made of diamonds.
19. Costlier than comfort
Meaning: Not worth the price
For Example: That movie seat is costlier than comfort. / This water bottle is costlier than comfort.
Alternatively: Not even comfy, but still pricey.
20. Like buying a castle
Meaning: Very expensive
For Example: This house is like buying a castle. / That computer is like buying a castle.
Alternatively: Feels like I need a treasure chest to buy it.
21. A money monster
Meaning: Eats up your cash
For Example: That game is a money monster. / The car’s repair bills are a money monster.
Alternatively: It keeps asking for more money.
22. Drains the bank
Meaning: Uses up all your money
For Example: That new phone drains the bank. / Going to that school trip drains the bank.
Alternatively: My savings went down to zero.
23. Gold-digger buy
Meaning: Something that takes all your money
For Example: That outfit is a gold-digger buy. / That theme park ticket is a gold-digger buy.
Alternatively: It grabs your cash like a magnet.
24. Diamond-deep pockets
Meaning: Needs a lot of money
For Example: You need diamond-deep pockets for that bag. / That cruise is for people with diamond-deep pockets.
Alternatively: That’s rich-people stuff.
25. As rich as a treasure chest
Meaning: Too pricey
For Example: Those shoes are as rich as a treasure chest. / That game set is like a treasure chest of cost.
Alternatively: My wallet isn’t that full.
26. Sky-high price
Meaning: Very high cost
For Example: That drone has a sky-high price. / Those snacks at the stadium had a sky-high price.
Alternatively: It’s like the price flew to the clouds.
27. Too rich for my blood
Meaning: I can’t afford it
For Example: That concert is too rich for my blood. / The new phone is too rich for my blood.
Alternatively: I’ll just stick with something cheaper.
28. Gold-plated problem
Meaning: Something fancy but too expensive
For Example: That phone is a gold-plated problem. / Their house upgrades are gold-plated problems.
Alternatively: Shiny outside, money stress inside.
29. Like feeding a money-eating pet
Meaning: Constantly needs more money
For Example: That car is like feeding a money-eating pet. / That game app is like a money-eating pet.
Alternatively: It keeps asking for more money.
30. With a golden price tag
Meaning: Super expensive
For Example: That dress came with a golden price tag. / The shoes had a golden price tag.
Alternatively: Even looking at the price hurts!
31. Like buying a spaceship
Meaning: Too expensive and unnecessary
For Example: That outfit is like buying a spaceship. / A watch that costs that much? Like buying a spaceship.
Alternatively: Totally over the top.
32. A luxury bite
Meaning: A fancy but costly item
For Example: That chocolate is a luxury bite. / These chips are a luxury bite.
Alternatively: Tastes great, costs even more.
33. Like trading gold bars
Meaning: Very costly
For Example: That jacket is like trading gold bars. / This phone deal feels like giving away gold.
Alternatively: Not for people on a budget.
34. Budget-blower
Meaning: Wrecks your spending plan
For Example: That game system is a budget-blower. / Those jeans are a total budget-blower.
Alternatively: My weekly money is gone!
35. Credit card crusher
Meaning: Too expensive to pay off easily
For Example: That shopping trip was a credit card crusher. / This bike might be a credit card crusher.
Alternatively: Might need months to pay it off.
36. More dollars than sense
Meaning: Not worth the cost
For Example: That toy is more dollars than sense. / That meal was more dollars than sense.
Alternatively: Shouldn’t have spent that much.
37. Like shopping in a gold mine
Meaning: Everything is overpriced
For Example: That store is like shopping in a gold mine. / The mall feels like a gold mine of price tags.
Alternatively: Every item needs a treasure map.
38. Swallowed my savings
Meaning: Took all my money
For Example: That trip swallowed my savings. / The phone plan swallowed my savings.
Alternatively: My piggy bank is now empty.
39. Flashy but filthy-priced
Meaning: Looks good but costs too much
For Example: That bag is flashy but filthy-priced. / That phone case is flashy but filthy-priced.
Alternatively: Pretty, but no way I’m paying that.
40. Tastes like gold, costs like diamonds
Meaning: Good but extremely expensive
For Example: That burger tastes like gold but costs like diamonds. / Those cookies are tasty but diamond-priced.
Alternatively: Not everyday food.
41. Luxury-level pain
Meaning: Fancy but painful to pay for
For Example: That dinner was luxury-level pain. / The clothes were luxury-level pain.
Alternatively: My wallet still hurts.
42. Premium punch
Meaning: Price hits hard
For Example: That speaker has a premium punch. / That watch hit with a premium punch.
Alternatively: Great quality, but it costs too much.
43. Purse-pincher
Meaning: Takes all your money
For Example: That festival was a purse-pincher. / That mall is a real purse-pincher.
Alternatively: Hold onto your wallet!
44. Rich-folk’s fun
Meaning: Meant only for very rich people
For Example: That hotel is rich-folk’s fun. / That dinner cruise is rich-folk’s fun.
Alternatively: I’ll pass and stay home.
45. Like buying a dream with cash
Meaning: Expensive and unrealistic
For Example: That vacation is like buying a dream with cash. / Their house is like buying a dream with cash.
Alternatively: It sounds nice, but costs too much.
Metaphors for Expensive – True/False Quiz
- “Costs an arm and a leg” means something is super cheap.
True / False - If a video game “breaks the bank,” it means it’s too expensive.
True / False - “A small fortune” means the item costs only a few dollars.
True / False - When someone says, “It’s like burning money,” they mean it’s a smart way to save.
True / False - A “wallet-drainer” is something that takes a lot of your money.
True / False - Saying something has a “sky-high price” means it’s very affordable.
True / False - “Diamond-deep pockets” means you need a lot of money for something.
True / False - “Like throwing money down the drain” means you’re spending wisely.
True / False - “Luxury-level pain” means the price is small and easy to pay.
True / False - If something is “too rich for my blood,” that means it’s too expensive for you.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Metaphors Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Metaphors nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Metaphors together!
Conclusion
Talking about expensive things doesn’t always need numbers. People use fun and smart phrases to explain high prices. These are called metaphors. Saying something “costs an arm and a leg” or is “a wallet-drainer” helps others understand just how pricey it is.
Now you know 45 different ways to talk about things that cost a lot. Try using some when you write stories or talk with friends. They make your words more interesting and easier to understand. Keep practicing and you’ll become great at using these expressions.
