cost an arm and a leg
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To be extremely expensive.
Literally: To cost a limb.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Complaining about high prices.
Register: informalConnotation: complaintEra: 20th century – present
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
Rent in this neighborhood costs an arm and a leg now.
Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “cost an arm and a leg” mean?
To be extremely expensive. Literally: To cost a limb.
Is “cost an arm and a leg” formal or informal?
cost an arm and a leg is generally informal; connotation: complaint.