cost

Related to cost: cost accounting, cost analysis, fixed cost

and hang the cost

With no regard for the price. We have to get the roof fixed before the next storm, so call the contractor and hang the cost.
See also: and, cost, hang

at all costs

In any way possible, regardless of risk or expense. Please, save my husband at all costs—I can't live without him! I hope my foot heals quickly—I try to avoid going to the doctor at all costs.
See also: all, cost

at any cost

In any way possible, regardless of risk or expense. Please, save my husband at any cost—I can't live without him! I hope my foot heals quickly—I try to avoid going to the doctor at any cost.
See also: any, cost

civility costs nothing

proverb It is easy to be respectful. You don't have to be their best friends, but you could at least say hi to them—civility costs nothing.
See also: cost, nothing

cost (one) dear

To bring one trouble; to result in very negative consequences. The crimes of his youth cost him dear when he started applying for jobs.
See also: cost, dear

cost (someone) dearly

To cause dire, harmful, or problematic consequences for someone, especially regarding a foolish action or a mistake. Drinking all night before his final exams is going to cost him dearly. That late penalty could cost them dearly, as it now puts their opponents within range to tie the game.
See also: cost, dearly

cost a bomb

slang To be very expensive. A fancy car like that costs a bomb, so I definitely can't afford it!
See also: bomb, cost

cost a pretty penny

To be very expensive. The person spending the money can be stated between "cost" and "a." A fancy car like that costs a pretty penny, so I definitely can't afford it! Wow, a house in that gated community must have cost Alex a pretty penny.
See also: cost, penny, pretty

cost an arm and a leg

slang To be very expensive. A noun or pronoun can be used between "cost" and "a" to indicate the person spending the money. College tuition costs an arm and leg nowadays. I'm sick of paying rent in this town. It's costing me an arm and a leg!
See also: and, arm, cost, leg

cost out

To determine the total cost of something by adding smaller costs together. When we cost out all the steps of our home renovation project, we knew that it was going to exceed the amount we had budgeted.
See also: cost, out

cost the earth

To be exorbitantly expensive. A: "Your new car looks pretty slick!" B: "I should hope so, it cost the earth!" The company is making cutting-edge smartphones that don't cost the earth for consumers.
See also: cost, earth

cost up

To determine the total cost of something by calculating all the smaller costs involved. A noun or pronoun can be used between "cost" and "up." When we cost up all the steps of our home renovation project, we knew that it was going to exceed the amount we had budgeted. The boss wants you to cost up the project before he'll sign off on it.
See also: cost, up

count the cost

To realize the negative impact that something has had; to assess the consequences. I ignored my foot injury because I didn't think it was serious, but I'm definitely counting the cost now that I need surgery.
See also: cost, count

courtesy costs nothing

proverb It is easy to be respectful. You don't have to be their best friends, but you could at least say hi to them—courtesy costs nothing.
See also: cost, courtesy, nothing

estimate the cost at (something)

To predict that something will cost a certain amount. Unfortunately, I would estimate the cost of these car repairs at $1,000.
See also: cost, estimate

it/that will cost (one)

1. Something will cost a large amount of money, especially compared to a cheaper or simpler option. You can opt to rent a larger van instead of the sedan, but it will cost you. A: "Jane and Joe want to upgrade their tickets to first class." B: "There's still time to do it, but that'll cost them. Are they sure it's worth it?" A: "Will you promise not to tell Mom?" B: "It'll cost you."
2. Something will have a negative impact on one's performance or chance of success. A: "Uh oh, the quarterback just fumbled the ball on his own 20 yard line!" B: "Ouch, that'll cost them big time. They really can't afford to give up any more points this late in the game." You can try to fluff up your résumé a bit when you apply for the job, but it'll cost you if your interviewers find out.
See also: cost, that, will

king's ransom

A very large sum of money. I've always wanted to vacation in Hawaii, but the plane tickets cost a king's ransom.
See also: ransom

to (one's) cost

To one's detriment; due to one's personal experience with something negative. Unfortunately, he's not as forgiving as we all had thought, as I found out to my cost.
See also: cost
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at all costs

 and at any cost
Fig. regardless of the difficulty or cost; no matter what. I intend to have that car at all costs. Mary was going to get that job at any cost.
See also: all, cost

Civility costs nothing.

 and Courtesy costs nothing.
Prov. It never hurts you to be polite. Always greet people politely, no matter what you think of them. Civility costs nothing. Why not write Mildred a thank-you note? Courtesy costs nothing.
See also: cost, nothing

cost a pretty penny

 and cost an arm and a leg; cost the earth
Fig. to be expensive; to cost a lot of money. Mary's dress is real silk. It must have cost a pretty penny. Taking care of a fancy car like that can cost a pretty penny, let me tell you. It cost an arm and a leg, so I didn't buy it. A house that size with an ocean view must cost the earth!
See also: cost, penny, pretty

cost something out

to figure out the total cost of some set of costs or a complex purchase of goods or services. Give me a minute to cost this out, and I will have an estimate for you. Do you have time to cost out these specifications this week?
See also: cost, out

estimate the cost at

(some amount) to approximate the cost of something at a particular amount. I estimate the cost at about one hundred dollars. The cost of repairing the car was estimated at over four thousand dollars!
See also: cost, estimate

*king's ransom

Fig. a great deal of money. (To pay an amount as large as one might have to pay to get back a king held for ransom. *Typically: cost ~; pay ~; spend~.) I would like to buy a nice watch, but I don't want to pay a king's ransom for it. It's a lovely house. I bet it cost a king's ransom.
See also: ransom
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

at all costs

Also, at any cost or price . Regardless of the expense or effort involved, by any means. For example, Ann told the doctor to preserve her mother's sight at all costs, or It seems the company plans to develop the product at any cost, or I'm determined to get vacation time at any price. [Mid-1800s]
See also: all, cost

at any cost

Also, at any price. See at all costs.
See also: any, cost

king's ransom

A huge sum of money, as in That handmade rug must have cost a king's ransom. This metaphoric expression originally referred to the sum required to release a king from captivity. [Late 1400s]
See also: ransom
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

cost an arm and a leg

If something costs an arm and a leg, it costs a lot of money. It cost us an arm and a leg to get here. But it has been worth every penny and more. Note: Verbs such as pay, charge and spend are sometimes used instead of cost. Many restaurants were charging an arm and a leg for poor quality food.
See also: and, arm, cost, leg

count the cost

mainly BRITISH
COMMON If you count the cost of something damaging or harmful, you consider the extent of the damage or harm that has been done. Meanwhile, the government has been counting the cost of this disastrous campaign. The central government is today counting the political cost of the dispute which has already prompted the resignation of one minister.
See also: cost, count
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

cost an arm and a leg

be extremely expensive. informal
See also: and, arm, cost, leg

count the cost

calculate the consequences of something, typically a careless or foolish action.
2004 The Mercury (Hobart) Aaron Mauger is on standby as the All Blacks count the cost of Saturday's loss.
See also: cost, count

cost (or charge or pay) the earth

cost (or charge or pay) a large amount of money. British informal
See also: cost, earth
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

cost/pay an ˌarm and a ˈleg

(informal) cost/pay a lot of money: We want to redecorate the living room, but I’m afraid it’s going to cost us an arm and a leg.
See also: and, arm, cost, leg, pay

at ˈany cost

under any circumstances: He is determined to win at any cost.
See also: any, cost

it will ˈcost you

(spoken) used to say that something will be expensive: There is also a de luxe model available, but it’ll cost you.
See also: cost, will

to your ˈcost

(know, discover, etc. something) because of something unpleasant that has happened to you: Joanne’s not a very reliable person, as I’ve recently discovered to my cost.
See also: cost

at ˈall costs

whatever has to be done, suffered, etc: He is determined to win at all costs.
See also: all, cost

count the ˈcost


1 consider carefully what the risks or disadvantages may be before you do something: The job was attractive financially, but when I counted the cost in terms of separation from my family and friends, I decided not to take it.
2 feel the bad effects of a mistake, an accident, etc: We made a big mistake when we bought that old car, and we’re still counting the cost — it breaks down almost every week!
See also: cost, count

cost/pay/charge the ˈearth

(British English, informal) cost/pay/charge a lot of money: It needn’t cost the earth to refurbish your offices.
See also: charge, cost, earth, pay
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

at all costs

Regardless of the expense or effort involved; by any means.
See also: all, cost
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

cost an arm and a leg/a pretty penny, to

Excessively expensive, exorbitant. The first phrase is American in origin and dates from the mid-twentieth century. The source is obvious: giving up an arm and a leg to buy something is clearly too costly. The use of “pretty” to mean considerable in amount was originally British and is now archaic except in a few well-worn phrases like this one, a cliché since the late nineteenth century. It was common throughout the eighteenth century, and crossed the Atlantic as well (“The captain might still make a pretty penny,” Bret Harte, Maruja, 1885). A similar term was a fine penny, now obsolete.
See also: and, arm, cost, leg, pretty
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • and hang the cost
  • cost out
  • eat
  • eat (someone or something)
  • eat it
  • eat me
  • cost up
  • estimate the cost at
  • estimate the cost at (something)
  • cost (one) dear
References in periodicals archive
Cost: $1,305 with one credit, $895 noncredit, with housing; $945 with one credit, $535 noncredit, w/out housing.
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In order to contain the cost of prescription medications, we have designed a reimbursement program to encourage generic medications when possible and provide a [better] reimbursement for formulary drugs.
Tackling health care together: by involving district employees, M. Mohsin Dada made health plan changes that saved millions
"Wire, like equipment costs, energy cost, labor cost is a part of the cost of baling.
Tricky trio: baler operators must scrutinize baling wire, maintenance and energy operating costs
Cost segregation studies can be prepared for office buildings, manufacturing plants, multi-family housing, shopping centers, restaurant and retail chains, and a variety of other real estate properties.
How to save millions with accelerated asset depreciation
Overall cost trend for hemophilia medications rose 25% in 2005, driven in part by an 8% increase in use.
Special delivery: health insurers need to manage the cost and use of specialty drugs
However, it disagrees with their statement that costs "not customarily incurred outside of trusts" are the ones not subject to the floor.
Second Circuit holds trust investment advisory fees subject to 2% floor
In the initial implementation of these technologies, the ability to maintain a lower cost was probably achieved.
Healthcare and storage: patient imagery has changed the dynamics of healthcare as we know it today
By March 2005, when all costs were presumably accounted for, average total costs of compliance had ballooned to $4.36 million, up 39 percent from the $3.14 million estimate in July 2004.
Ask FERF about ... Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance costs
In order to maintain what revenues they can, the NWCF entities have placed a strong emphasis upon total cost control.
Issues and unexplored opportunities within the Navy Working Capital Fund
Keywords: poverty measurement, low-income, latent and sequential costs of poverty
The sequential costs of poverty: what traditional measures overlook
This energy-efficient arrangement provides considerably reduced extract volumes, the ability to incinerate all fume sources at a relatively low cost, and high levels of thermal sand recovery.
Expanding opportunities for precision sand casting: recent advances in coldbox tool design have shown potential improvements for precision sand cast cores and molds. With these advances, high volume metalcasting facilities can be more capital and labor efficient
Cost pressures are only one catalyst that can lead to a mill's decision to change water treatment programs.
Water treatment: striking a balance
* USING COST SEGREGATION, OWNERS CAN RECLASSIFY real property as personal property in order to obtain faster depreciation write-offs.
The best of both worlds: a combination of cost segregation and like-kind exchanges can save on real estate taxes
In this formula: DC = Direct Cost; SC = Salvage Credit; V = Volume of Material to be Demolished and Removed from the Project; COP = Cost of Production.
What it's worth: correctly estimating a demolition project almost always separates success from failure
By contrast, when a business like Wal-Mart computes its costs, it must properly account for the cost of the capital tied up in the business--the land, buildings, and inventories.
Creative accounting: measuring the true cost of K-12 education