idiom (verb phrase) · informal
pay through the nose
UK/peɪ θruː ðə nəʊz/US/peɪ θru ðə noʊz/PAY THROUGH THE NOSE
to pay much more than something is worth; to be charged an excessively high price
Examples
“We paid through the nose for accommodation during the festival.”
“If you buy at tourist spots you'll often pay through the nose.”
“Small communities without choice in suppliers tend to pay through the nose for utilities.”
Band 8 sentence
“With little competition, residents end up paying through the nose for clean drinking water.”
Collocations
- pay through the nose for tickets
- pay through the nose to replace
Word family
Common mistakes
pay through nose→pay through the nose
pay by the nose→pay through the nose
Say it for a higher band
5pay a lot→6overpay→7+pay through the nose
Synonyms
overpay
Easily confused
overpay
“Customers who don't compare prices often overpay for basic services.”
Related words
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