في 15 ثانية
- Used to describe something extremely or unfairly expensive.
- Equivalent to the English 'cost an arm and a leg'.
- Very common in daily conversation and informal settings.
المعنى
This phrase is used to describe something that is incredibly expensive. It's the French way of saying you'd have to sacrifice something precious just to afford it.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Complaining about rent
Mon appartement à Paris me coûte les yeux de la tête !
My apartment in Paris costs me an arm and a leg!
Discussing a new phone
Le dernier iPhone coûte les yeux de la tête, c'est fou.
The latest iPhone is incredibly expensive, it's crazy.
In a business meeting (casual)
Ce projet va nous coûter les yeux de la tête si on ne fait pas attention.
This project is going to cost us a fortune if we aren't careful.
خلفية ثقافية
In France, complaining about prices is a way to show you are a savvy consumer. Using 'coûter les yeux de la tête' is a common social lubricant in markets and shops. Quebecers use this phrase frequently, but they also have 'coûter une beurrée' (to cost a thick layer of butter), reflecting their historical agricultural roots. Belgian French speakers use the idiom identically to the French, often when discussing the high cost of real estate in Brussels. While understood, speakers might prefer 'C'est le prix de l'or' (It's the price of gold) to emphasize extreme value.
Use 'Ça'
Always start with 'Ça' in spoken French. 'Ça coûte les yeux de la tête' sounds much more natural than 'Cette chose coûte...'
Don't pluralize 'tête'
Even if many people are paying, it's always 'la tête' (singular), because it's a fixed idiom.
في 15 ثانية
- Used to describe something extremely or unfairly expensive.
- Equivalent to the English 'cost an arm and a leg'.
- Very common in daily conversation and informal settings.
What It Means
Imagine something so pricey it feels like a physical sacrifice. In English, we lose an arm and a leg. In French, you lose your eyes. It implies a price that is totally unreasonable. You use it when a price tag shocks you. It is vivid, dramatic, and very common.
How To Use It
This phrase acts like a regular verb. You conjugate coûter based on the subject. If a car is expensive, la voiture coûte les yeux de la tête. You can use it in any tense. Use the passé composé for a past purchase: ça m'a coûté les yeux de la tête. It is simple and fits anywhere a verb goes. Just don't forget the plural les yeux!
When To Use It
Use it when venting about the cost of living. It is perfect for complaining about rent in Paris. Use it when discussing luxury items you can't afford. It works great at a restaurant with overpriced water. It is also perfect for texting friends about a concert ticket. It shows you are frustrated by the price.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very formal legal documents. Do not use it for things that are actually cheap. If you use it for a baguette, people will think you are joking. It is a bit too colorful for a serious corporate budget report. In those cases, use onéreux or coûteux. Also, don't use it if someone actually lost an eye. That would be very awkward.
Cultural Background
This expression dates back to the 16th century. It suggests that sight is our most precious sense. Losing your eyes is the ultimate price to pay. It reflects the French love for dramatic flair in speech. It is one of the most recognized idioms in France. Every French person knows and uses this regularly. It is a staple of daily conversation.
Common Variations
You might hear ça coûte un bras which means 'it costs an arm'. This is closer to the English version. Another variation is ça coûte la peau des fesses. That one is much more vulgar! It literally means 'the skin of the buttocks'. Stick to the eyes if you want to stay polite. C'est hors de prix is a more literal alternative.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is idiomatic and informal. It is best used in spoken French or casual writing like texts and social media.
Use 'Ça'
Always start with 'Ça' in spoken French. 'Ça coûte les yeux de la tête' sounds much more natural than 'Cette chose coûte...'
Don't pluralize 'tête'
Even if many people are paying, it's always 'la tête' (singular), because it's a fixed idiom.
Add 'vraiment'
To sound like a real local, add 'vraiment' or 'franchement' for emphasis: 'Franchement, ça coûte vraiment les yeux de la tête !'
أمثلة
6Mon appartement à Paris me coûte les yeux de la tête !
My apartment in Paris costs me an arm and a leg!
A very common complaint in big French cities.
Le dernier iPhone coûte les yeux de la tête, c'est fou.
The latest iPhone is incredibly expensive, it's crazy.
Used here to express shock at tech prices.
Ce projet va nous coûter les yeux de la tête si on ne fait pas attention.
This project is going to cost us a fortune if we aren't careful.
Acceptable in a relaxed professional environment.
L'hôtel était super mais ça a coûté les yeux de la tête.
The hotel was great but it cost a fortune.
Perfect for summarizing a vacation expense.
15 euros pour un café ? Ça coûte les yeux de la tête ici !
15 euros for a coffee? It costs an arm and a leg here!
Hyperbole used for comedic effect.
N'achète pas cette voiture, elle va te coûter les yeux de la tête en assurance.
Don't buy that car, the insurance will cost you a fortune.
Warning someone about hidden costs.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence with the correct idiom.
J'adore cette maison, mais elle ________ les yeux de la tête.
The verb used in this idiom is always 'coûter' (to cost).
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct form of the idiom:
The fixed expression requires 'les yeux' (plural) and 'la tête' (with the article).
Complete the dialogue with a natural response.
A: Tu as vu le prix de ce nouvel iPhone ? B: Oui, c'est incroyable ! ________
This is the most natural and common way to express shock at a high price in French.
In which situation would you NOT use this phrase?
Choose the inappropriate context:
The phrase is for *excessively* expensive things. A baguette at a normal price is not appropriate for this idiom.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينJ'adore cette maison, mais elle ________ les yeux de la tête.
The verb used in this idiom is always 'coûter' (to cost).
Select the correct form of the idiom:
The fixed expression requires 'les yeux' (plural) and 'la tête' (with the article).
A: Tu as vu le prix de ce nouvel iPhone ? B: Oui, c'est incroyable ! ________
This is the most natural and common way to express shock at a high price in French.
Choose the inappropriate context:
The phrase is for *excessively* expensive things. A baguette at a normal price is not appropriate for this idiom.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo, that's a common mistake. In French, it's always plural: 'les yeux'.
It's not rude, but it's informal. If you have a friendly relationship, it's fine. If not, stick to 'c'est onéreux'.
They mean the same thing. 'Les yeux de la tête' is slightly more classic, while 'un bras' is more modern.
No, it's only for the price of things or services. You can't say a person 'costs the eyes of the head' unless you mean their salary/maintenance.
Yes, it is universally understood across the Francophonie.
Historically, 'la tête' was used to encompass the whole being. It just became the fixed form over centuries.
Yes! Adding 'm' (me) makes it personal and is very common.
Not really, but you can just say 'C'est hors de prix' (It's out of price/unaffordable).
99% of the time, yes. Occasionally it refers to a huge effort, but money is the primary context.
It's like the 'u' in 'burn' but with rounded lips. Don't forget the 'z' sound from 'les'!
عبارات ذات صلة
Coûter un bras
synonymTo cost an arm.
Coûter la peau des fesses
specialized formTo cost the skin of the buttocks.
C'est donné
contrastIt's a steal / it's very cheap.
Coûter bonbon
similarTo cost a lot.
