THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Pay through the nose
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To pay much more for something than you consider reasonable.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We had to pay through the nose for a replacement cable at the venue shop.
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.
We had to ________ for a replacement cable at the venue shop.
Show the answer
Pay through the nose — To pay much more for something than you consider reasonable.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Pay through the nose” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
To pay much more for something than you consider reasonable.
Compare: We had to pay through the nose for a replacement cable at the venue shop.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this informal expression when complaining about an excessive price. It expresses the speaker’s judgement, so give context rather than presenting that judgement as a verified price comparison.
More examples in context
- I do not want to pay through the nose for a ticket I could have booked earlier.
- They felt they had paid through the nose for such a basic repair.
Usage note
The past form is paid through the nose, not payed. Use for to name the purchase. The phrase implies an excessive price, not simply that something costs money.
A short conversation
A: Did you find the missing cable?
B: Yes, but I paid through the nose for it at the venue.
A: Let’s pack a spare next time.
One more practice question
What does someone mean by saying they paid through the nose?
A. They believe they paid an excessive amount.
B. They received the item free of charge.
Check your answer
A. The expression communicates a complaint about paying too much.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.