Etymology:
- It is a very popular American expression of the 20th century. This expression became popular after items of daily use became expensive. But this term is more common for items of luxury. It is also argued that this term was used in ancient Europe, where people were given the severe punishment of cutting an arm and a leg. It was considered to deprive a person of his valuable limbs. This act was later given the form of this expression. Though the practice is not followed anymore but the idiom is used in different and meaningful context.
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The new pair of stilettos caused her an arm and a leg, but she really wanted them from a long time.
Submitted on February 25, 2019
Translation
Find a translation for the Cost an Arm and a Leg phrase in other languages:
kostet einen Arm und ein Bein
coûter un bras et une jambe
बहुत महंगा है
թև ու ոտք կարժենա
腕と脚の費用
kostade en arm och ett ben
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Cost an Arm and a Leg
clean and soberdifferent as chalk and cheesecoffee soup and crackerscite chapter and versecross my heart and hope to diecost a pretty pennyCloak-and-Daggercut and driedclose one's eyes and think of Englandchildren should be seen and not heardchew the meat and spit out the bonescost the earthdo the best and live the restdead and buried
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"Cost an Arm and a Leg." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 22 Feb. 2025. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/cost-an-arm-and-a-leg_44587>.
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