cost an arm and a leg

Meaning

This idiom is used to describe something that is extremely expensive or overpriced. It carries a slightly dramatic or exaggerated tone, emphasizing the high financial burden of an item or service. It is highly common in everyday conversations about shopping, travel, and bills.

Examples

• I’d love to buy that new smartphone, but it costs an arm and a leg.

  I’d love to buy that new smartphone, but it costs an arm and a leg.

• Gas prices have gone up so much that filling up the tank costs an arm and a leg.

  Gas prices have gone up so much that filling up the tank costs an arm and a leg.

• We wanted to stay at the resort, but the rooms cost an arm and a leg.

  We wanted to stay at the resort, but the rooms cost an arm and a leg.

• Getting my car repaired cost an arm and a leg, but I had no choice.

  Getting my car repaired cost an arm and a leg, but I had no choice.

• Organic groceries can sometimes cost an arm and a leg.

  Organic groceries can sometimes cost an arm and a leg.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ That designer bag costed an arm and a leg.

  ✓ That designer bag cost an arm and a leg.

  The past tense of the verb 'cost' is still 'cost', not 'costed', when referring to prices.

• ✗ The dinner was costing an arm and a leg.

  ✓ The dinner cost an arm and a leg.

  We rarely use this idiom in the continuous form (was costing) to describe a static price; the simple past or simple present is preferred.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Flights to Europe during the peak summer season always ___.

  💡 Think of sacrificing two expensive body parts.

  Show answer

  cost an arm and a leg

• I love that leather jacket, but it's going to ___.

  💡 A phrase meaning it is extremely expensive.

  Show answer

  cost an arm and a leg