Cost a pretty penny

Meaning

Be quite expensive.

Usage

Used when discussing purchases or investments.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Refers to pennies as currency, so something costs many pennies.

Appears in English literature from the 19th century.