pay through the nose

Meaning

To pay an unreasonably high price for something. It carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the buyer had no choice but to pay an excessive amount, or that they were ripped off.

Examples

• We had to pay through the nose for last-minute flight tickets.

  We had to pay through the nose for last-minute flight tickets.

• If you want to live in the city center, you'll have to pay through the nose.

  If you want to live in the city center, you'll have to pay through the nose.

• They paid through the nose for that organic coffee.

  They paid through the nose for that organic coffee.

• You shouldn't have to pay through the nose just for basic dental care.

  You shouldn't have to pay through the nose just for basic dental care.

• I ended up paying through the nose for parking because I forgot to reserve a spot.

  I ended up paying through the nose for parking because I forgot to reserve a spot.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I paid by the nose for the repairs.

  ✓ I paid through the nose for the repairs.

  The correct preposition is 'through', not 'by' or 'with'.

• ✗ He paid through his nose.

  ✓ He paid through the nose.

  The idiom uses the definite article 'the', not a possessive adjective like 'his' or 'her'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Because we booked late, we had to ___ for the hotel.

  💡 Pay an excessively high price.

  Show answer

  pay through the nose

• You will ___ for concert tickets if you buy them from resellers.

  💡 Pay way too much money.

  Show answer

  pay through the nose