THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
A small fortune
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
A surprisingly large amount of money.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Replacing all the broken chairs would cost a small fortune.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
Replacing all the broken chairs would cost ________.
Show the answer
A small fortune — A surprisingly large amount of money.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “A small fortune” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
A surprisingly large amount of money.
Compare: Replacing all the broken chairs would cost a small fortune.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it informally to emphasise a high cost, large saving or substantial payment. The amount depends on the speaker’s situation.
More examples in context
- They spent a small fortune restoring the old stage.
- Borrowing the equipment saved our club a small fortune.
Usage note
Despite small, the phrase means a lot of money. It gives no fixed amount, so do not use it where an exact figure is needed.
A short conversation
A: Why are we repairing the display stands?
B: New ones would cost a small fortune. These can still do the job.
A: Let us check what needs fixing.
One more practice question
What does “The repairs cost a small fortune” suggest?
A. The repairs cost almost nothing.
B. The repairs were very expensive from the speaker’s point of view.
Check your answer
B. The idiom emphasises a large cost, despite the word small.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.