What does the idiom "Costs an arm and a leg" mean?
Are you using the idiom Costs an arm and a leg but not sure about its meaning? Using idioms, which are important elements of spoken and written language, in the right place strengthens your language skills. Examine the meaning of the Costs an arm and a leg idiom and the situations in which it is used.
Meaning of "Costs an arm and a leg"
Meaning
The phrase ‘costs an arm and a leg’ is an idiomatic expression used to describe something that is very expensive. It is often used to emphasize how unaffordable it is to purchase the item. The phrase is used in a humorous way to indicate how ridiculously expensive something can be.
Etymology
The phrase ‘costs an arm and a leg’ is believed to have originated during World War I. The phrase was used to describe the exorbitant prices charged for materials necessary for the war effort. The phrase is thought to refer to the high cost of war materials in terms of lives lost on the battlefield, as soldiers would be forced to pay the ultimate price - their lives - for the war effort.
Usage
The phrase ‘costs an arm and a leg’ is mainly used in informal contexts. It is typically used in conversation to emphasize how expensive something is. It can also be used in more playful contexts to express disbelief at how expensive something is. For example, one might say “That dress must have cost you an arm and a leg!”
Example Sentences
- That new car must have cost you an arm and a leg!
- I can't afford that painting - it costs an arm and a leg!
- I'm not surprised the repairs cost so much - cars these days cost an arm and a leg to maintain.
- That dress must have cost an arm and a leg - it looks very expensive!
The Global Spread of English Idioms
As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.
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