If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive … The small dictionary of idioms
arm and leg
arm and leg- (n.), (slang) An exorbitantly high price that must be paid for something that isn't really worth it. * /It s true that to get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg./ … Dictionary of American idioms
arm\ and\ a\ leg- noun slang An exorbitantly high price that must be paid for something that isn't really worth it. It s true that to get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg … Dictionary of American Idioms
arm and leg- If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Arm and leg- If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive … Dictionary of English idioms
arm and leg- noun: an exorbitant price have fun without shelling out an arm and a leg Genevieve Stuttaford … Useful english dictionary
Arm and Head suplex- Suplex Un suplex est un mouvement au catch et à la lutte. En français, suplex veut dire "souplesse". C est une des prises les plus utilisees au catch. Un suplex consiste à projeter l adversaire à terre sur le dos, le cou ou les… … Wikipédia en Français
arm and leg- noun Date: 1967 an exorbitant price … New Collegiate Dictionary
arm and leg- noun A very high price for an item or service; an exorbitant price; … Wiktionary
arm and leg- Expensive … American business jargon
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Expressions that should not be taken literally.
These phrases should be known to anyone who wants to improve the level of spoken English and understand what is being said in conversation, films or books.
website collected idioms that are often found in the English language, which should not be translated literally, so as not to get into an awkward position.
- Against the clock- practically overtaking time - this means "doing something very quickly", in a short time.
- To eat one's word- you can not eat your words, but take your words back - quite.
- Break a leg- sometimes in films you can hear how someone advises the hero to "break his leg", in fact, this is a wish for good luck: no fluff, no feather!
- The apple of one's eye- literally translated scary, but the phrase means something like “the diamond of my soul”, love someone very much and cherish like the apple of an eye.
- To feel it in one's bones- this is the case when you feel in your gut that something will happen. In Russian, premonition is felt in another place, in English - in bones.
- When the pigs fly- the phrase about flying pigs will remind many of the situation “when the cancer whistles on the mountain” or “after rain on Thursday”. That is, never.
- To scratch someone's back and that someone will scratch in return- this expression can literally be translated as “scratch the back of another so that he scratches you in return”, that is, a favor for a favor: to do a good deed to a person in the expectation that he will answer the same.
- To walk a mile in my shoes- this is not an offer to walk in someone else's shoes, you are asked to "be in my shoes", imagine yourself in someone else's place.
- To cost an arm and a leg- so they say when something is too expensive. You literally have to sell a body part to afford this thing.
- To count one's chickens before they hatch- count ahead of time for success, when nothing is clear yet. We have a similar expression "chickens are counted in the fall."
- It's raining cats and dogs- it's funny to imagine a rain of cats and dogs, but they say that when it pours like a bucket.
- Rat race- "rat race" - by and large, our whole life. It means "to be in a state of constant haste and competition", to chase success / money - who cares.
- In a nutshell if you want to tell something in brief, then this expression is perfect for speaking in a nutshell.
- The grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence)- can be translated as "it's good where we are not." Many have noticed that the neighbor's grass is always greener - this is the same feeling.
- Quick and dirty in our language there is the same capacious expression "cheap and cheerful".
- To shake a leg- so they say when you need to hurry up and do something faster: “move!”.
- Not your cup of tea this is not your element, ”when the soul does not lie to something or something cannot be done. Literally “not your cup of tea”, and you need to find your own.
- Curiosity killed the cat- an overly curious person can often hear this. In Russian - curious Varvara's nose was torn off at the market, not a single cat was hurt.
- To take the cake- do not rush to take the pie, it means "surpass everyone" (in a good or bad way). It vaguely resembles the Russian "take a pie from the shelf."
- A leopard cannot change its spots- just as a person cannot change his nature, he is “as he is”, so a leopard cannot change the spots on the skin. A good argument for those who do not want to change.
- Blood, sweat, and tears- expression means great effort or hard work. Literally "blood, sweat and tears": in Russian there is a close "seven sweats came down."
- Pushing the envelope is an expression about a person who always offers something new and goes beyond the usual.
- To save your breath literally “save your breath”, which means that you should not waste your energy and talk about what will not be useful. It is better to remain silent and not shake the air.
- To know where the bodies are buried - when you hear this, don't be alarmed - there is nothing in this sentence about real burials, the Russian equivalent: "that's where the dog is buried" means to understand what the essence of the matter is.
Translation of idiom cost an arm and a leg(literal): "cost an arm and a leg".
Literary translation:
cost an arm and a leg = cost a lot of money; be very expensive.
Idiom explanation cost an arm and a leg in English:
cost an arm and a leg = to be very expensive; to cost a lot (probably exorbitant amount) of money.
Many linguists believe that the cost an arm and a leg idiom originated in the realm of art, when in the 15th and 18th centuries artists charged their clients much larger sums of money for a full-length portrait (it was much cheaper to buy your portrait depicting only the head and shoulders ). This version seems plausible, although some linguists argue that the idiom cost an arm and a leg appeared much later, namely in the 20th century after the Second World War, and moreover in the USA. Something precious was compared to an arm and a leg (organs most often amputated in war) - that is, the loss was very significant.
Example sentences with idiom cost an arm and a leg :
1. This new Mercedes costs an arm and a leg !
2. I know that eating gourmet doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg .
3. Don't pay them an arm and a leg for the Internet access – switch to another company!
Have a nice English!
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(Rob and Vera go shopping)
(Rob and Vera go shopping)
Ah Vera, it"s great that you"ve come with me during our lunch break to do some shopping. I need to buy a suit to go to a wedding and I have to look very smart.
Oh, Vera, it's good that you were able to go out at lunchtime to go shopping. I have to buy a suit - I was invited to a wedding and I need to look very smart.
And I will make sure of that, Rob. Everybody says I have a good taste. I "ve always chosen my husband"s and my son"s pajamas and they look good while they sleep! Rob, I love that gray suit in the window!
And I'll do my best for that, Rob. Everyone says I have good taste. I always choose pajamas for my husband and son and they look great in their sleep! Rob, I love that gray suit in the window!
Wow! It looks really smart, actually. It will make me look great!
Wow! Indeed, he is very stylish. I will look great in it.
Exactly! Let's go into the shop, you must try it!
That's it! Let's go to the store, you have to try it on!
The color suits you, Sir! I will see if I can find a smaller size so that it fits you perfectly.
This color really suits you, sir! I'll look for a smaller size so the suit fits like a glove.
You see, Rob… This salesman knows what he is talking about. He thinks it looks good on you. But he is right - a size smaller would fit better. And everybody in the wedding will think you are a powerful man.
See, Rob... The salesman knows what he's talking about. He thinks the suit suits you. But he's right - a smaller size will fit better. And all the guests at the wedding will think that you are an influential person.
Yes. Wait Vera, this suit is not for me. I"m reading this label and it says it costs an arm and a leg!
Yes. Wait, Vera, but this costume is not for me. I looked at the price tag and saw that it is very expensive (costs an arm and a leg- literally: worth an arm and a leg)!
An arm and a leg!? This is terrible, Rob! It "s barbaric! This is the 21st century, not the Middle Ages! And the salesman seems quite civilised. He sounded like a nice man who wouldn't demand your limbs!
Arm and leg?! This is terrible, Rob! This is barbarism! We are in the 21st century, not in the Middle Ages! And the salesperson looked quite civilized. He looked like a perfectly normal person who wouldn't demand your limbs!
Don "t worry, Vera. I will keep all of my limbs. In English, when we say something costs an arm and a leg we mean it is very expensive!
Don't worry, Vera. I don't give away any of my limbs. In English, saying something costs an arm and a leg we mean very expensive!
So, it is something people say but it doesn't actually involve arms and legs. That's a relief!
That is, it is just an expression and has nothing to do with arms or legs really. What a relief!
Let's hear some examples while I get back into my old clothes.
Let's listen to some examples while I change back.
- I "d like to travel all over Europe, but the air fare might cost me an arm and a leg.
- I wanted to travel all over Europe, but plane tickets can cost fabulous money.
- You have to pay a lot of money to give your children a good education nowadays! A place in a top university costs an arm and a leg.
- Nowadays, you have to pay a lot of money to give children a good education! A place in a good university costs a fortune.
So, what expression do you use when you want to say that something is very, very expensive?
So what expression do you use when you want to say that something is very, very expensive?
You might say it costs an arm and a leg.
You can say: " It costs an arm and a leg".
Yes. Now let "s leave this expensive suit here and get out of the shop before that posh-sounding salesman comes back.
Yes. Now let's leave this insanely expensive suit here and get out of here before that pompous salesman gets back.
good idea. He will look down on us, Rob. But I would… pay a nail and an elbow for that scarf there… and that red dress over there, it might cost a foot and a knee… Oh, look at that handbag! It "s a designer one and must cost an ear and a hand ...
Good idea. He would have condemned us, Rob. But I… would give a fingernail and an elbow for that scarf… and that red dress over there, it must be worth a foot and a knee… Oh, just look at that bag! It is designer and must be worth an ear and a hand...
What are you talking about, Vera!? We only say "an arm and a leg"! Now, quickly, let's get out of here!
What are you talking about, Vera? We can only say "arm and leg"! Now get out of here quickly!
Good good. Till…
Welcome to English in a Minute.
Welcome to English Minute.
Let "s say you buy something. And when you pay for it, you say: " This cost me an arm and a leg!"
Let's say you buy something. And when you pay you say " This is very expensive!(Literally: it costs me an arm and a leg.)"
Do you have to give them your arms and your legs? I hope not.
What, you have to give them your arms and legs? I hope no.
Let's listen to an American English conversation to see if we can find out what this means.
Let's listen to a conversation in American English to see if we can understand what it means.
Did you buy that new computer?
Did you buy this new computer?
Yeah, I did. And it cost way more than I expected it to.
Yes, I bought it. And it cost me more than I expected.
Let me just tell you it costs an arm and a leg!
Let me just say that it cost me a fortune!
When you say in American English that something costs an arm and a leg, it means that the price is very, very high.
When you speak American that somethin' cost an arm and a leg", it means that the price is very, very high.
If you use this phrase, everyone in the United States will understand you.
If you use this phrase, everyone in the United States will understand you.
But this is an informal phrase, so don't use it in a business setting.
But this is an informal phrase, so don't use it for business purposes.
And that's English in a Minute!
And it's "English Minute"!
cost an arm and a leg
Meaning | Synonyms
- very expensive
- costing a lot of money
- to be very expensive
- a very large and exorbitant sum of money
- very costly
- excessively pricey
Example Sentences
- I "d really like to have a new farm house, but it may cost me an arm and a leg.
- This dress is really nice, but it cost me an arm and a leg.
- You must visit that restaurant; the food is really good, and it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg.
- "How much would you pay for luxurious farmhouse by the beach? An arm and a leg?"
- I would have loved to go with my friends on a vacation, but it would have cost me an arm and a leg.
- The show is excellent, but the tickets cost an arm and a leg.
- He really wants to go to that event. He's willing to pay an arm and a leg for it.
- I went to the auction but didn't pick up anything. Everything cost an arm and a leg.
- This resort lets you experience luxury without having to pay an arm and a leg.
origin
This is an American phrase, coined sometime after World War II. Probable reference is to soldiers who had lost their limbs in the war, thus having to pay a very high price for the war.
