Meaning & Origin

“Cost an arm and a leg” describes a very high price — something so expensive it feels like a huge sacrifice. The phrase spread in 20th‑century English as a colorful way to complain about costs.

Pronunciation Guide

• cost — vowel like “aw.”
• arm — sounds like “ahrm.”
• leg — rhymes with “beg.”
• Natural rhythm: COST an ARM and a LEG.

Usage & Sentence Examples

Use it when a price feels unreasonably high.

• Downtown rent would cost an arm and a leg for a small team.
• That consultant’s day rate costs an arm and a leg.
• The tickets cost an arm and a leg after fees.
• Custom hardware would cost an arm and a leg to maintain.
• We can’t pick that plan — it’ll cost an arm and a leg over three years.
• The rare book costs an arm and a leg on resale sites.

Synonyms

very expensive · cost a fortune · cost the earth (UK) · break the bank · exorbitant · pricey