noun phrase · neutral
hidden costs
UK/ˈhɪd(ə)n kɒsts/US/ˈhɪdən kɔːsts/HID·den·COSTS
extra expenses that are not obvious at first and may appear later
Examples
“The advertised price seemed low, but the hidden costs made the whole trip expensive.”
“Before you sign the contract, check for any hidden costs like admin fees or delivery surcharges.”
“Small businesses often struggle because of unexpected hidden costs associated with compliance.”
Band 8 sentence
“Consumers are increasingly wary of suppliers who advertise low prices but offset them with a slew of hidden costs.”
Collocations
- incur hidden costs
- reveal hidden costs
- account for hidden costs
Word family
Common mistakes
There are many hidden cost in the contract.→There are many hidden costs in the contract.
The shop hid the costs.→The shop hid the costs.
Say it for a higher band
5extra cost→6unexpected expense→7+hidden costs
Synonyms
unexpected expenses
additional charges
Easily confused
hidden fees
“The airline advertised a low fare but added hidden fees for baggage and seat selection.”
Related words
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In Shopping & Money
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