Cost an arm and a leg 昂貴的代價

Rob: It's great that you've come with me during our lunch break to do some shopping. I need to buy a suit to go to a wedding and I have to look smart.

Helen: 你需要買一套西裝去參加婚禮，我們午飯休息的時候我能幫你參謀參謀，怎麼樣？大家都說我特會買衣服。Rob, 我覺得那個櫥窗裏展示的那件灰色西裝上衣看上去挺適合你的。

Rob: Wow! It looks very smart indeed. It will make me look great!

Helen: Exactly! 你穿上一定非常帥！Let's go into the shop, 你一定要穿上試試！

Salesman: The colour suits you, Sir! I will see if I can find a smaller size so that it fits you perfectly.

Rob likes the suit but it costs 'an arm and a leg'!

Helen: You see, Rob... 售貨員也認為這件衣服穿在你身上簡直就沒治了。不過我同意他說的尺碼，如果再小一號兒就更合體了。Everybody will think you are a powerful man.

Rob: Wait Helen, this suit is not for me. I'm reading this label; it costs an arm and a leg!

Helen: An arm and a leg!? 這也太可怕了 Rob. 你說你得付出一隻胳膊和一條大腿才能拿到這件衣服？Rob 這可是21世紀，不是中世紀喲 not the Middle Ages! 售貨員看上去也相當文明，he sounded like a nice man!

Rob: Don't worry, Helen. I will keep my limbs. In English, when we say something costs an arm and a leg we mean that it is very expensive!

Helen: So 在我們形容什麼東西的價格太昂貴時，就可以說 cost an arm and a leg, 太貴了買不起。That's a relief.

Rob: Let's hear some examples while I go back to my old clothes.

"I'd like to travel all over Europe, but the air fare might cost me an arm and a leg."

"You have to pay a lot of money to give your children a good education nowadays! A place in a top university costs an arm and a leg."

Rob: So, how do you use the expression an arm and a leg?

Helen: 當你想表示什麼東西非常非常昂貴，你就可以說 it costs an arm and a leg.

Rob: Now, let's leave this expensive suit here and get out of the shop before the posh-sounding salesman comes back.

Helen: 咱們趕快走吧，要不然那個說話高雅的售貨員馬上就回來了，他肯定會瞧不起我們的。我看那邊的那條圍巾非得要我 pay a nail and an elbow. 那件紅色連衣裙還不得 cost a foot and a knee... 啊, 再看這個包包! 肯定要 cost an ear and a hand...

Rob: What are you talking about, Helen!? We only say "an arm and a leg"! Quick, let's get out of here!

Helen: OK, OK! Bye.

Rob: Bye.