Meaning
Something that is very expensive or costly.
Cultural Background
In Spain, you will often hear 'costar un riñón' (to cost a kidney) as a more common alternative to the eye idiom. Both are equally understood, but the kidney version feels slightly more modern in casual speech. Argentines are very expressive. While they use 'un ojo de la cara', they also frequently use 'un huevo' (a testicle) or 'una fortuna'. Be careful with 'un huevo' as it is vulgar. In Mexico, 'un ojo de la cara' is standard, but you might also hear 'está carísimo' or 'te salió en un ojo'. The emphasis is often on the 'pain' of the transaction. Colombians might use 'un ojo de la cara' but also 'un platal' (a lot of silver/money). The eye idiom remains the most 'literary' and widely recognized across all social classes.
Use it for emphasis
Don't just say it's expensive; use your hands and look shocked to make the idiom really land.
Gender Trap
Remember: 'un ojo' is always masculine. Never say 'una ojo' even if talking about 'la joya'.
Meaning
Something that is very expensive or costly.
Use it for emphasis
Don't just say it's expensive; use your hands and look shocked to make the idiom really land.
Gender Trap
Remember: 'un ojo' is always masculine. Never say 'una ojo' even if talking about 'la joya'.
Combine with 'pero'
It's often used to justify why you *didn't* buy something: 'Me gusta, pero es un ojo de la cara'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct idiom.
Ese hotel de cinco estrellas es un ___ de la cara.
The idiom is 'un ojo de la cara'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Talking about 'las joyas' (the jewelry):
The idiom 'un ojo de la cara' is a fixed masculine singular phrase, but the verb 'son' must agree with the plural subject 'las joyas'.
Match the price to the reaction.
A coffee costs 50 euros.
50 euros for a coffee is an extreme price, fitting the idiom.
What would a native speaker say?
A: ¿Te gusta mi coche nuevo? B: ¡Sí! Pero debe ___ un ojo de la cara.
We use 'ser' to describe what the car 'is' (an expensive thing).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEse hotel de cinco estrellas es un ___ de la cara.
The idiom is 'un ojo de la cara'.
Talking about 'las joyas' (the jewelry):
The idiom 'un ojo de la cara' is a fixed masculine singular phrase, but the verb 'son' must agree with the plural subject 'las joyas'.
A coffee costs 50 euros.
50 euros for a coffee is an extreme price, fitting the idiom.
A: ¿Te gusta mi coche nuevo? B: ¡Sí! Pero debe ___ un ojo de la cara.
We use 'ser' to describe what the car 'is' (an expensive thing).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, the idiom is fixed as 'un ojo'. Adding more eyes doesn't make it more expensive; it just makes it incorrect!
It can be seen as a complaint. In a market, it's fine for haggling. In a luxury store, it might be seen as a bit 'low class' or overly blunt.
'Ser' describes the object (The car IS an eye). 'Costar' describes the price (The car COSTS an eye). Both are very common.
Yes, it is one of the most universal idioms in the Spanish language.
No, it only applies to prices or efforts. You can't say a person 'is an eye of the face' unless you mean their services are expensive.
In Spain, yes. In Latin America, 'un ojo' is generally more frequent.
Absolutely! It's a great way to sound more fluent early on because the grammar is simple.
The idiom itself doesn't change, but the verb does: 'Esos zapatos son un ojo de la cara'.
The formal version would be 'tener un precio prohibitivo' or 'ser sumamente costoso'.
It specifies which eye—the one on your face—to emphasize the physical sacrifice, though it sounds redundant!
Related Phrases
Costar un riñón
synonymTo cost a kidney.
Estar por las nubes
similarTo be in the clouds.
Ser un chollo
contrastTo be a bargain.
Tirar la casa por la ventana
builds onTo throw the house out the window.
