Meaning
To be extremely expensive — a more vivid, physically dramatic way of saying something costs a fortune.
The imagery of sacrificing actual limbs makes the phrase feel more emphatic and personal than plainer alternatives, often used with a note of complaint or disbelief.
Origin
Despite a popular story linking the phrase to wounded WWII soldiers or to portrait painters charging extra to include arms and legs, neither theory has any solid documentary support, and etymologists generally treat both as folklore rather than fact. The earliest confirmed print appearance is from 1949, in the Long Beach Independent, in an article about affordable Christmas gift ideas that “won’t cost her an arm and a leg” — a full four years after WWII ended, which undercuts the wartime origin story rather than confirming it.
Examples
That laptop cost an arm and a leg, but it’s lasted five years so far.
Fixing the roof after the storm cost us an arm and a leg.
Concert tickets these days cost an arm and a leg.
A: “Nice watch! How much was it?” B: “Honestly, it cost an arm and a leg.”
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Cost an arm and a leg' mean?
To be extremely expensive — a more vivid, physically dramatic way of saying something costs a fortune.
The imagery of sacrificing actual limbs makes the phrase feel more emphatic and personal than plainer alternatives, often used with a note of complaint or disbelief.