Meaning of pay through the nose | Babel Free

Definitions

To pay an exorbitant or excessive amount, either in money or in some other manner.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“Observe here the happy estate of our Ancestors under Monarchy, who, if they gained but this advantage […] of receiving a few good Grants, and enjoying a pittance of Freedom, once in 4 or 5 ages when their King was too young to play Rex, and there hapned a wise and honest Protector; yet were sure to pay through the nose for it afterwards with double and treble interest for forbearance.”

“But vvhen they came to ſeek for Match, and Bullet, and Povvder, there vvas none to be had. The Fanaticks had bought it all up, and made them pay for it moſt unconſcionably, and through the noſe.”

“[F]armers of the revenue vvere admitted, vvho, far from being gratified for their preſence, as they are in their ovvn aſſemblies, vvere obliged to pay through the noſe for their reception.”

“[S]he [a lady]'s a mere nobody, as one may ſay, till ſhe can get herſelf a huſband, being ſhe knovvs nothing of buſineſs, and is made to pay for every thing through the noſe.”

“Several persons have already left off snuff-taking, in consequence of the additional duty on tobacco, observing that they have no idea of paying through the nose for the expence of war.”

“I seem to understand that this gentleman […] is the fons et origo of the trouble; and, from what I gather, he has already paid through the nose.”

“"You'll pay through the nose for this, you scoundrel," Sexton whimpered. "I'll fix you, you traitor."”

“[T]hat fellow would milk the settlements somehow, and make his family pay through the nose to keep him out of bankruptcy or perhaps even gaol!”

“Somebody figured out that a harpooned fish dies quicker and tastes better than one caught by the long-liners' nets. Whole Foods pays through the nose for it, all over the country. So do restaurants.”

“At a time when other entertainment is available at a sliver of the price from Netflix and other streaming services, live sport is the only thing left to induce viewers to pay through the nose for pay-TV.”

CEFR level