To Pay Through the Nose 💵👃
When someone says you have to “pay through the nose,” it’s a colorful way of warning you that you’re in for a hefty bill. But how did this eyebrow-raising expression come about? Though the origin seems as slippery as an eel, historians have sniffed out a few possible sources.
One particularly gruesome theory involves the ninth-century Danish nose tax, where delinquent taxpayers in Ireland might find themselves with a rather unpleasant nasal adjustment—i.e., a slit nose. A milder, yet equally entertaining theory uses the old British slang “rhino” (meaning money) as its reference point. Whichever tale you favor, the idiom anchored itself in the English language by the seventeenth century, making its mark on our wallets and our imaginations.
Related Phrases and Idioms:
- An Arm and a Leg: Correspondingly high cost, generally causing pain to your finances.
- Break the Bank: To be very expensive or beyond budgetary constraints.
- Highway Robbery: An outrageous and unfair overcharging.
Synonyms:
- Extortionate
- Overpriced
- Premium cost
- Exorbitant
Antonyms:
- Bargain
- Inexpensive
- Reasonable
- Affordable
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “Being charged an arm and a leg for something you only need a nose for? Talk about overkill!”
- “My wallet needs a Band-Aid after paying through the nose for that!”
Proverbs/Expressions:
- “A fool and his money are soon parted.”
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Literature: Charles Dickens’s “Hard Times” explores the hefty tolls of financial and human capital.
- Songs: “Money” by Pink Floyd delves into the holes money can burn in your pocket.
- Movies: “The Wolf of Wall Street” portrays massive financial expenses and their rainbow of consequences.
Inspirational Thought:
Always check both your wallet and nasal passages before engaging in commerce; either might be lightened substantially.
Until our next lexicon adventure, remember: words are worth their weight in gold, or perhaps a slit-nose if you’re not careful!
—Penelope Phrasesmith
