idiom · neutral

pay through the nose

UK/peɪ θruː ðə ˈnəʊz/US/peɪ θru ðə ˈnoʊz/PAY·through·the·NOSE

speakingtask2

to pay much more than something is really worth; be charged an excessive price

Examples

“Tourists often pay through the nose for souvenirs in busy city centres.”

“If you buy the ticket at the last minute you'll probably pay through the nose.”

“Residents say they are paying through the nose for poor public services.”

Band 8 sentence

“When monopoly firms dominate a market, consumers inevitably end up paying through the nose for basic goods.”

Collocations

  • pay through the nose for something
  • end up paying through the nose

Word family

pay through the nose verb phrase

Common mistakes

pay through nose→pay through the nose

pay through the nosed→pay through the nose

Say it for a higher band

5pay a lot→6pay a very high price→7+pay through the nose

Synonyms

pay a fortune

Easily confused

pay a fortune

“We paid a fortune for the concert tickets, but they were totally worth it.”

charge someone an arm and a leg

“The mechanic charged me an arm and a leg to fix my car.”

Related words

make ends meetcost an arm and a legtighten one's beltpenny-wise and pound-foolishstrapped for cashliving paycheck to paychecka fool and his money are soon partedsave up for a rainy day

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