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An arm and a leg

An arm and a leg

Meaning

Very expensive. A large amount of money.

Examples

That new lawnmower is top of the range. It cost me an arm and a leg.

Where did it originate?

USA, mid-20th century. Often mistakenly thought to be related to the high cost of painting full-length portraits.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
An arm and a leg

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