coûter la peau des fesses

/ku.te la po de fɛs/

verb B2

le (masc.) la (fem.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral
Word fingerprint: Register: neutral. Era: current. Frequency: common. Domain: general. Connotation: neutral.

Forms

present
coûte la peau des fesses
past
a coûté la peau des fesses
perfect
coûté la peau des fesses

Meaning

  1. to cost an arm and a leg (informal)

    • Ce loyer coûte la peau des fesses.

      This rent costs an arm and a leg.

V Category State Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive
Meaning fingerprint: Category: state. Concreteness: concrete. Agency: voluntary. Duration: durative. Transitivity: transitive.

Similar words

coûter les yeux de la tête

coûter la peau des fesses is more vulgar or crude in register; coûter les yeux de la tête is the more common version — both mean "to cost an arm and a leg."

Practice

1 What does coûter la peau des fesses mean?

2 Fill the gap: Ce loyer coûte la peau des ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches coûter la peau des fesses?

Usage notes

Informal and slightly crude; «coûter les yeux de la tête» is a milder equivalent.

verb

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