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Do you need some phrases for talking about price? It is important to choose the right phrases and idioms when talking about price because the wrong choice can change the connotation or intensify a statement incorrectly.
For example, you could imply that you think you paid too much for a product when you only intended to say it was expensive. You might mean to say something was a good price, but accidentally suggest it was cheaply made. These differences change how your listener will respond. For example, if you say that an item was ‘a steal’, you are saying that it was cheap, but the product is still good.
Common Phrases for Talking about Price
Price, cost, the bite out of your wallet. The amount that a certain item or service costs is something that everyone will need to talk about, sooner or later. Whether you’re buying groceries or negotiating a large purchase, you’ll need to express yourself clearly.
We all need phrases for talking about price, because from a home, to a vehicle, to a cup of coffee, everything has a cost. A huge amount of our daily conversations are about buying, selling, and negotiating with other people. As a result, the English language has many idioms about prices. To blend in with native speakers and sound natural, you need to know these idioms too.
English Phrases for Talking About Price
How to Ask for the Prices
- How much does it cost?
- What’s the price?
- Is it expensive?
- Is it within my budget?
- Can you give me a discount?
- Is the price negotiable?
- Can you lower the price?
- What’s the best price you can offer?
- Do you have any sales or promotions?
- Is this the final price?
- Can you give me a better deal?
- What’s the price range?
- Can you give me a quote?
- What’s included in the price?
- Do you have any financing options?
- How much is it on sale for?
- Is there a special offer?
- Can I get a discount if I pay in cash?
- Are there any bundle deals available?
- Can you match the price I found elsewhere?
Talking about Cheap Prices
- That’s a steal!
- It’s a great deal.
- That’s very inexpensive.
- It’s a bargain.
- It’s cheap as chips.
- That’s a budget-friendly price.
- It’s a fraction of the cost.
- It’s a wallet-friendly price.
- That’s a budget-saving price.
- It won’t break the bank.
Talking about Expensive Prices
- That’s steep.
- It’s a high price to pay.
- That’s a hefty sum.
- It’s a premium price.
- It’s quite expensive.
- That’s a steep cost.
- It’s a hefty fee.
- It’s a costly amount.
- That’s a high-end price.
- It’s a top-dollar cost.
Common Phrases for Talking About Price with Meanings
- It was a bargain.
A bargain means that something was cheap, but it is good value for money. This has a positive connotation. You could intensify this by saying ‘It was a real bargain’.
- I paid through the nose for it.
To pay through the nose for something means to pay a very large amount for it. It isn’t necessarily bad, but it means that the item/service is expensive for the buyer.
- It’s very dear.
Dear, in this context, means expensive. If something is too dear or very dear, it is too expensive.
- It costs a fortune.
A fortune means a large amount of wealth. For something to cost a fortune means that it is very expensive.
- It’s too rich for my blood.
This is an informal way to say that something is too expensive for your budget. It may or may not be very expensive, but the speaker can’t afford it.
- To slash prices
Eg: The prices were slashed in the sale.
To slash prices means to reduce prices dramatically and suddenly.
- A fire-sale
This phrase was originally a metaphor, meaning a sale where prices are dramatically reduced and all stock must be sold.
- It cost an arm and a leg.
To cost an arm and a leg means to be very expensive.
- To get your money’s worth out of something.
Eg: To get your money’s worth out of a week pass to a theme park by going there every day.
This means using something as much as possible to justify the price.
- To lowball someone on price
Eg: I lowballed the car salesman on price.
To make someone a very low offer for an item.
- That’s a bit steep.
To be steep means to be expensive. You will hear this when someone is complaining about a price, or use it as an informal way to express your surprise at a price tag!
Most of these phrases are easy to use, and they make basic, conversational English sound natural quickly. When it comes to your study time, learning these few phrases is a bargain!
Idioms for Talking About Price with Meanings
- Cost an arm and a leg: very expensive
- Priceless: having no monetary value
- Not worth its weight in gold: not valuable
- Name your price: offer a price for something
- A steal: a very good bargain
- Sell like hotcakes: sell quickly
- Break the bank: spend all your money
- Throw in the towel: give up
- Bargain basement prices: very cheap prices
- Put a price tag on: determine the value or price of something
- A fair price: a reasonable price.
- Price is right: the price is acceptable or reasonable.
- At a premium: at a higher price than usual.
- Going rate: the standard or average price for something.
- Pay through the nose: pay a high price.
- Buy on the cheap: buy at a low price.
- Cut a deal: make an agreement about the price.
- Take it or leave it: accept the price as it is or not make a purchase.
- A price war: a competition between businesses to offer lower prices.
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