Cost an arm and a leg
/kɒst ən ɑːm ənd ə leɡ/informalUK · US
What does “Cost an arm and a leg” mean?
Cost an arm and a leg means to be extremely expensive.
The phrase exaggerates a price to make a complaint vivid. It is almost always used about something the speaker actually paid for.
It is conversational; in writing about costs, "prohibitively expensive" is the neutral choice.
When do people say it?
Used when complaining about a price.
“Getting the roof repaired cost an arm and a leg.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
Mid-twentieth century American; stories linking it to portrait painting are not supported.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Cost an arm and a leg” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Cut corners, To skimp on quality to save time or money.
Last reviewed 2026-09-11