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cost an arm and a leg meaning in Hindi

idiomAsked 9× in SSC · latest SSC CPO 2024 T-1Idioms & Phrases
cost an arm and a leg idiom

Meaning: To be very expensive

Hindi: बहुत महंगा होना

Synonyms: expensive, costly, pricey, exorbitant

Antonyms: cheap, affordable, inexpensive

Asked in: SSC CPO 2024 T-1 · SSC CPO 2024 T-2 · SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 · SSC MTS 2023 · SSC CPO 2022 T-2 · SSC CHSL 2020 T-1

cost an arm and a leg in SSC previous-year questions

  1. SSC CPO 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases

    Select the most appropriate idiom that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
    Popular cosmetics brands in India are very expensive.

    Answer & explanation

    Answer: C) cost an arm and a leg

    The correct idiom to substitute the underlined segment "very expensive" in the sentence is:
    "cost an arm and a leg."
    This idiom means something is very expensive or costs a lot of money.
    Corrected sentence:
    "Popular cosmetics brands in India cost an arm and a leg."
    Explanation of other options:
    • Up in arms: Being very upset or angry about something.
    • Flog a dead horse: To waste effort on something that has no chance of succeeding.
    • Take it with a pinch of salt: To not take something too seriously or literally.

  2. SSC CPO 2022 T-2 Idioms & Phrases

    Choose the correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.
    The trip to Europe cost us an arm and a leg!

    Answer & explanation

    Answer: D) Was very expensive

    Explanation:
    The idiom "cost an arm and a leg" means:
    • Something is extremely expensive or costs a lot of money.
    In the given sentence, it suggests that the trip to Europe was very costly.
    Correct meaning: Was very expensive ✅

  3. SSC CPO 2024 T-2 Idioms & Phrases

    Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank and complete the given idiom.
    Cost an arm and a __________
    (SSC CPO 2024 T-2 (30 April))

    Answer & explanation

    Answer: C) leg

    Solution:
    • The correct idiom is "cost an arm and a leg", which means something is extremely expensive.
    • It is a commonly used English expression referring to a very high cost or price.
    Correct Sentence:
    This designer handbag cost an arm and a leg.
    Correct Option:
    (3) leg

  4. SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases

    Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
    Cost an arm and a leg
    (SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 (01-July Shift 4))

    Answer & explanation

    Answer: A) To be very expensive

    The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "cost an arm and a leg" is "To be very expensive."
    Explanation:
    • The idiom "cost an arm and a leg" means that something is very costly, often implying that the price is high to the point of being unreasonable or difficult to afford.
    The other options are incorrect because:
    • "To be inexpensive" is the opposite of what the idiom means.
    • "To be moderately priced" and "To be affordable" both suggest a lower price, which does not match the meaning of the idiom.
    Thus, the correct answer is "To be very expensive."

  5. SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases

    Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
    To cost an arm and a leg
    (SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 (05-July Shift 1))

    Answer & explanation

    Answer: D) Something is very expensive

    Correct Answer: Something is very expensive
    Explanation:
    The idiom “to cost an arm and a leg” means that something is extremely expensive or overpriced.
    Let’s examine the options:
    • Someone is badly hurt – incorrect; too literal.
    • Someone has borne losses – unrelated to the idiom’s actual meaning.
    • Someone does not have money to buy something – incorrect; this describes a person's financial state, not the cost.
    • Something is very expensive – ✅ correct meaning of the idiom.
    ✅ Therefore, “to cost an arm and a leg” means something is very expensive.

  6. SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases

    Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
    Costing an arm and a leg
    (SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 (10-July Shift 4))

    Answer & explanation

    Answer: C) Very costly and luxurious

    Correct Answer: Very costly and luxurious
    Explanation:
    The idiom "costing an arm and a leg" means something is very expensive or costly.
    Let’s evaluate the options:
    • Very entertaining and jovial – Incorrect; unrelated meaning.
    • Very attractive and cheap – Incorrect; opposite meaning.
    • Very costly and luxurious – ✅ Correct; matches the idiom’s meaning.
    • Very rough and tough – Incorrect; unrelated meaning.
    So, the idiom "costing an arm and a leg" means very costly and luxurious.

Examples

cost an arm and a leg – questions

What is the meaning of cost an arm and a leg in Hindi?

cost an arm and a leg means “बहुत महंगा होना” in Hindi. In English: To be very expensive

What are the synonyms of cost an arm and a leg?

Synonyms of cost an arm and a leg: expensive, costly, pricey, exorbitant.

What is the opposite of cost an arm and a leg?

Antonyms of cost an arm and a leg: cheap, affordable, inexpensive.

Has cost an arm and a leg been asked in SSC exams?

Yes – cost an arm and a leg has been asked 9 times in SSC exams: SSC CPO 2024 T-1, SSC CPO 2024 T-2, SSC CHSL 2024 T-1, SSC MTS 2023, SSC CPO 2022 T-2, SSC CHSL 2020 T-1.

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