An Arm and a Leg Idiom

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History and Meaning

The idiom “an arm and a leg” is used to describe something that is excessively expensive or costs a lot of money. The expression suggests that the price being asked is so high that it would be comparable to the extreme cost of losing a limb.

The origin of this idiom is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the early 1900s. It is possible that it was influenced by the idea that losing a limb was a significant cost, both financially and personally, due to the impact on a person’s ability to work and perform daily tasks.

Examples

  • “The designer handbag costs an arm and a leg, so I decided to go for a more affordable option.”
  • “The repair costs for my car were so high that it felt like it would cost an arm and a leg.”
  • “I would love to travel to Europe, but the airfare and accommodations would cost an arm and a leg.”

The “an arm and a leg” idiom is often used to emphasize the high cost of something, and it is frequently used in discussions of money and finance. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, and it is generally well-understood by native speakers of English.

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Dr. James Morrison
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Dr. James Morrison
Professor Emeritus of Educational Leadership University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at Camford Publishing
Founder of On the Horizon (camford publishing)and The Technology Source, and professor of education at North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Morrison is author and co-author of over 200 publications focusing on educational planning and using information technology tools.Dr. Morrison has delivered numerous conference presentations and workshops for associations such as EDUCAUSE, AAHE, the College Board and others.He has served as a planning consultant to a number of colleges, universities, university systems, community colleges, educational agencies and public agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, and Department of the Army.His consulting activities focus on assisting organizations to integrate information technology tools in teaching and management.

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