small fortune

Related to small fortune: make a small fortune

small fortune

A large amount of money. I had to spend a small fortune to get my car repaired after the transmission started slipping.
See also: fortune, small
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

small fortune

a rather sizeable amount of money. This set of wheels cost me a small fortune. I've got a small fortune tied up in test equipment.
See also: fortune, small
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

a small fortune

COMMON A small fortune is a very large amount of money. For almost two years, Hawkins made a small fortune running a drugstore. Sharon didn't know much about antiques, but the lamps alone were probably worth a small fortune.
See also: fortune, small
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a small fortune

a large amount of money. informal
See also: fortune, small
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˌsmall ˈfortune

(informal) a lot of money: This house cost hardly anything when we bought it, but now it’s worth a small fortune.
See also: fortune, small
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a small fortune
  • come into a (small) fortune
  • lucky at cards, unlucky in love
  • every flow has its ebb
  • every flow must have its ebb
  • all (one's) Christmases have come at once
  • do something for luck
  • (as) sure as shooting
  • a streak of (good) luck
  • a string of (good) luck
References in periodicals archive
According to the description, Small Fortune "is an exciting new physical game show in which teams of three attempt a series of seemingly simple challenges for big money.
"It's going to cost the racecourse a small fortune. If the snow had arrived this morning we'd have been able to call it off early, but we couldn't call it off over what might happen.
Now is the time to repay me, and the tens of thousands of Welsh rugby supporters who have spent a small fortune over the years waiting to see the silver fern defeated by a Welsh team!
Only the first 1,000 received will have the chance to star - but you can try again tomorrow if also win a small fortune!
The story encompasses a middle aged Pakistani immigrant named Harris living in Northern England who recently received a small fortune from his divorce settlement with an English woman.
Adam Birtles, 17, admitting spending a small fortune by voting hundreds of times to ensure his idol won the talent show.
He believes a painting he bought could be the work of 17th-century artist Anthony van Dyck - and, if he is right, it would be worth a small fortune. But to prove it, the piece will have to undergo a thorough restoration and examination, involving the removal of layers of paint - and then be authenticated by an impartial expert.
A NATIONAL newspaper has announced that this government is to offer 1,000 places at top boarding schools to children from a poor/troubled background where help from all other agencies costing the taxpayers a small fortune has failed.
I recall a certain Hogmanay show a few years ago when the good people of Scotland would have paid me a small fortune to wear one too.
I know it's still a small fortune, but at least I've managed to shave a grand off your previous quotes.
THE City Council has probably spent a small fortune in creating stone paving throughout the city centre.
CAR makers still charge a small fortune for in-built sat-navs - which is a good reason to consider the new Nokia N96 mobile.
A Berlin student who bought a second-hand sofa bed at a flee market learned she had been sitting on a small fortune when she found a 17th Century baroque painting hidden inside.
The private schools also demand an upfront entry or "capitation" fee equivalent to about $3,000 to $4,000--a small fortune for middle-class families.