Sometimes, people use special phrases to talk about things that cost a lot of money. These phrases are called idioms. They help make speaking more fun and interesting. Instead of saying “That costs a lot,” people might say, “It cost an arm and a leg.” It doesn’t mean someone really lost their arm or leg. It just means something was very expensive.
These idioms can be heard in stores, at school, or even on TV. They help people explain prices in clever ways. In this article, you will learn 40 idioms that mean something is pricey. You’ll also see how to use them in real-life situations. These examples will help you understand and remember them better. Let’s get started and learn how people talk about expensive things using fun expressions.
Idioms for Expensive
1. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive
Example: The new phone cost an arm and a leg. / That jacket cost me an arm and a leg.
Put Differently: It was very pricey. / I paid a lot for it.
2. Break the bank
Meaning: Too costly to afford
Example: A trip to Disney might break the bank. / Buying that toy could break the bank.
Put Differently: It may cost too much. / It’s more than I can pay.
3. A pretty penny
Meaning: A high amount of money
Example: Their new sofa cost a pretty penny. / That necklace must have cost a pretty penny.
Put Differently: It was quite expensive. / They spent a lot on it.
4. Highway robbery
Meaning: Something is way too overpriced
Example: Five dollars for a soda? That’s highway robbery! / It felt like highway robbery at that shop.
Put Differently: It costs way too much. / That price is unfair.
5. Pay through the nose
Meaning: Pay a lot more than expected
Example: We had to pay through the nose for concert tickets. / I paid through the nose for that lunch.
Put Differently: I spent more than I should. / It was overpriced.
6. Cost a fortune
Meaning: Extremely expensive
Example: That wedding cost a fortune. / The video game cost a fortune.
Put Differently: It took a lot of money. / It was very costly.
7. Top dollar
Meaning: The highest amount paid
Example: They paid top dollar for those sneakers. / He wants top dollar for his car.
Put Differently: They paid a lot. / He wants the most money possible.
8. Worth its weight in gold
Meaning: Very valuable
Example: That backpack is worth its weight in gold. / Her advice is worth its weight in gold.
Put Differently: It’s very special and pricey. / It’s really important.
9. A king’s ransom
Meaning: A huge amount of money
Example: The painting sold for a king’s ransom. / Their rent is a king’s ransom.
Put Differently: It cost a lot. / They pay too much.
10. Burn a hole in your pocket
Meaning: Money is being spent too quickly
Example: That toy burned a hole in my pocket. / My allowance burned a hole in my pocket.
Put Differently: I spent my money fast. / It was too tempting.
11. Outrageous price
Meaning: Unreasonably high
Example: That lunch had an outrageous price. / The popcorn was sold at an outrageous price.
Put Differently: It cost too much. / It wasn’t fair.
12. Shell out
Meaning: Spend a lot of money
Example: We shelled out a lot for those movie tickets. / I had to shell out for my shoes.
Put Differently: We spent a big amount. / I paid a lot.
13. Pricey
Meaning: Costing a lot
Example: That dress is too pricey. / The toy is fun but pricey.
Put Differently: It’s not cheap. / It costs a lot.
14. High-end
Meaning: Very expensive and fancy
Example: She shops at high-end stores. / That’s a high-end camera.
Put Differently: It’s top quality and costly. / Only rich people usually buy that.
15. Premium price
Meaning: Very high price
Example: We paid a premium price for tickets. / Premium price doesn’t mean better quality.
Put Differently: It was costly. / We paid a lot.
16. Deep pockets
Meaning: A lot of money to spend
Example: You need deep pockets to live there. / Only people with deep pockets can afford that.
Put Differently: You need lots of money. / It’s only for rich people.
17. Live like a king
Meaning: Spend money freely
Example: On vacation, we lived like kings. / He lives like a king with his new job.
Put Differently: We spent a lot. / Life was expensive.
18. Gold-plated
Meaning: Very fancy and expensive
Example: The bathroom looks gold-plated. / His watch is gold-plated and costly.
Put Differently: It looks rich. / It cost a lot.
19. Luxury item
Meaning: Something expensive and not needed
Example: That purse is a luxury item. / A sports car is a luxury item.
Put Differently: It’s fancy and pricey. / You don’t really need it.
20. Blow your budget
Meaning: Spend more than planned
Example: The trip blew our budget. / I blew my budget on toys.
Put Differently: I spent too much. / We passed our limit.
21. Cash cow
Meaning: Something that brings in lots of money
Example: That video game is a cash cow. / Their app is a cash cow.
Put Differently: It makes a lot of money. / It’s very valuable.
22. Throw money around
Meaning: Spend too much without thinking
Example: He throws money around at the mall. / They throw money around on clothes.
Put Differently: They spend carelessly. / They waste money.
23. Big bucks
Meaning: A lot of money
Example: That job pays big bucks. / He earns big bucks.
Put Differently: He makes a lot. / That’s high pay.
24. Flash the cash
Meaning: Show off money
Example: He likes to flash the cash with his clothes. / She flashed the cash at the store.
Put Differently: They show off their money. / They like looking rich.
25. Lavish
Meaning: Fancy and expensive
Example: The party was lavish. / They had a lavish dinner.
Put Differently: It cost a lot. / It was very fancy.
26. Money doesn’t grow on trees
Meaning: You shouldn’t waste money
Example: Don’t buy that money doesn’t grow on trees. / Mom said money doesn’t grow on trees when I asked for another toy.
Put Differently: Money is hard to get. / We need to save it.
27. Price tag shock
Meaning: Surprise at how much something costs
Example: I got price tag shock at the shoe store. / The price tag shock was real!
Put Differently: I didn’t expect it to cost that much. / It was too expensive.
28. Make it rain
Meaning: Spend a lot quickly
Example: He made it rain at the arcade. / She made it rain on her birthday shopping.
Put Differently: They spent fast. / The money went quickly.
29. Splash out
Meaning: Spend a lot for something fun
Example: We splashed out on ice cream. / They splashed out on a new game.
Put Differently: We spent extra. / It was a treat.
30. Sky-high price
Meaning: Very high cost
Example: Gas has a sky-high price. / Those sneakers have a sky-high price.
Put Differently: It costs too much. / It’s not affordable.
31. Tighten your belt
Meaning: Spend less to save
Example: We have to tighten our belts after the trip. / Dad said to tighten our belts this month.
Put Differently: We need to save money. / No more spending.
32. Priced out
Meaning: Something costs more than you can pay
Example: We were priced out of the concert. / I got priced out of the pizza place.
Put Differently: We couldn’t afford it. / It was too expensive.
33. Fancy price
Meaning: High cost
Example: That bike has a fancy price. / A fancy price for a small toy!
Put Differently: It’s very costly. / Too much money for that.
34. Cost the earth
Meaning: Extremely expensive
Example: That trip cost the earth. / His shoes cost the earth.
Put Differently: It was way too pricey. / Not cheap at all.
35. Spend a small fortune
Meaning: Use up a lot of money
Example: They spent a small fortune on their pet. / I spent a small fortune on snacks.
Put Differently: They paid a lot. / I spent too much.
36. Blow money
Meaning: Waste money
Example: He blew all his money on candy. / Don’t blow your money!
Put Differently: He wasted it. / It’s all gone.
37. Gold mine
Meaning: Something very valuable
Example: That shop is a gold mine. / Her idea was a gold mine.
Put Differently: It’s worth a lot. / It brings money.
38. Have money to burn
Meaning: Have extra money to spend
Example: She acts like she has money to burn. / They must have money to burn.
Put Differently: They spend freely. / No worries about cost.
39. Worth a mint
Meaning: Worth a lot of money
Example: That card is worth a mint. / The necklace is worth a mint.
Put Differently: It’s very valuable. / You could sell it for a lot.
40. Like pouring money down the drain
Meaning: Wasting money
Example: Fixing that toy is like pouring money down the drain. / That was like pouring money down the drain.
Put Differently: It was a waste. / Not worth it.
“Rewrite the Sentence’’ Activity: Idioms for Expensive
Below are 10 simple sentences about spending money. Rewrite each one using one of the idioms from the list.
Sentences to Rewrite
- I spent all my allowance on one video game.
- That backpack costs too much for me.
- She keeps buying toys, even though they’re very costly.
- His birthday party was very fancy and expensive.
- The shoes at that store are very overpriced.
- They bought something very valuable at the market.
- I didn’t know the price would be that high.
- Mom said I shouldn’t waste my money on that toy.
- He spends money like he has more than enough.
- That lunch wasn’t worth the price I paid.
Answer Key
- That video game cost me an arm and a leg.
- I was priced out of buying that backpack.
- She keeps flashing the cash on new toys.
- His party was really lavish.
- Those shoes are highway robbery!
- They found something worth a mint at the market.
- I got price tag shock.
- Mom said money doesn’t grow on trees.
- He acts like he has money to burn.
- That lunch was like pouring money down the drain.
Conclusion
Idioms help us talk about expensive things in fun and easy ways. Instead of just saying “It cost a lot,” we can say “It cost a fortune” or “It broke the bank.” These phrases make our language more colorful and clear.
Now you know 40 idioms for expensive things. Try using them when you talk about shopping, school events, or gifts. The more you use them, the easier they will become. Keep learning and enjoy adding these expressions to your everyday speaking.
