cost an arm and a leg

idiom/kɒst ən ɑːrm ənd ə lɛɡ/ 🔊 listen

Cost an arm and a leg means something is extremely expensive — so expensive it feels like you're giving up a limb. One of the most common idioms for talking about high prices.

📖 Meanings

1to be extremely expensive
"That designer bag costs an arm and a leg." — That bag is very expensive.
2to require a lot of money
"Fixing the car cost an arm and a leg." — Repairing the car was very costly.

🔄 Related expressions

break the bank →pricey →highway robbery →

💬 Common patterns

cost an arm and a legpay an arm and a legworth an arm and a leg
❓ "That hotel costs an arm and a leg." What does this mean?