an arm and a leg | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic,hyperbolic)Usually used after the verbcost, but also oftencharge,pay, andspend: a veryhighpricefor anitemorservice; anexorbitantpriceI would have liked to have gone to the concert, but the tickets costan arm and a leg.Synonym:pretty penny(cost a pretty penny)1954,Commentary, volume18, American Jewish Committee, page448:That Polack costs me anarm and a leg, he thought.1960March 29, “Slim waists prompted new sportswear line”, inThe New York Times, page44:Bangle bracelets in fourteen-karat gold that do not cost anarm and a legare always in demand.2008,Jackie Collins,Hollywood Wives, Pan Macmillan,→ISBN,page417:Her house was fabulous, her tits perfection – besides – the Beverly Hills Hotel was costing himan arm and a leg.

Examples:

EN: I'd make a practice of breaking an arm and a leg a week.
ES: Me romperé una pierna o un brazo cada semana.
EN: You cost me an arm and a leg!
ES: ¡Me vas a hundir el techo sobre mi cabeza...!
EN: They've confiscated a truck that cost me an arm and a leg.
ES: Ese camión me costó un ojo de la cara.
EN: I'd give an arm and a leg to be as tall as you
ES: Daría un ojo por ser tan alto como tú.
EN: I'd give an arm and a leg
ES: Daría un ojo.
EN: Oh-ho, cost me an arm and a leg.
ES: Me va a costar una fortuna.
EN: The bed alone cost me an arm and a leg.
ES: La piltra sólo me ha costado el precio de una transmisión delantera.
EN: Just over five years ago, I lost an arm and a leg in a train accident.
ES: Basándose en que él no sabia lo que estaba hacienda.
EN: It cost me an arm and a leg though.
ES: - Sí, pero por un ojo de la cara.
EN: - It cost an arm and a leg.
ES: - Me costó un riñón.
EN: They charge an arm and a leg in there, but it's worth it.
ES: Cobran un brazo y una pierna aquí, pero vale la pena.
EN: The sheriff busted an arm and a leg when Hark took him through Miss Luella's window.
ES: El sheriff se rompio un brazo y una pierna cuando Hark se lo llevo. a traves de la ventana de la senorita Luella.
EN: - Won't cost you an arm and a leg.
ES: - Le saldrá muy bien de precio.
EN: He'll charge you an arm and a leg... and I won't charge you nothing.
ES: Ellos te cobrarán caro. Yo lo haré gratis.
EN: Geez, it must cost an arm and a leg to feed that thing.
ES: Debe costar muchísimo dinero alimentar a esa cosa.

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