Costar un ojo de la cara

/kos-TAR oon OH-kho deh la KAH-rah/

To be very expensive.

Level:B1Register:InformalCommon:★★★★★

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"To cost an eye of the face"

What It Really Means:

To be very expensive.

English Equivalents:

To cost an arm and a legTo cost a fortuneTo pay through the nose

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, this means 'to cost an eye of the face'.

✨ Figurative

In reality, it means something is extremely expensive, like 'costing an arm and a leg'.

Key Words in This Idiom:

costarojo

cara

face

→

📝 In Action

Ese coche nuevo debe costar un ojo de la cara.

That new car must cost an arm and a leg.

Quería ir de vacaciones a Japón, pero los vuelos cuestan un ojo de la cara.

I wanted to go on vacation to Japan, but the flights cost a fortune.

La reparación del ordenador me costó un ojo de la cara.

Fixing the computer cost me a fortune.

📜 Origin Story

The most popular story for this phrase stars Spanish explorer Diego de Almagro in the 16th century. During an expedition in what is now Peru, he was supposedly hit by an arrow and lost an eye. Later, when speaking with the king about the high price of his conquests, he famously remarked that defending the Crown's interests had 'cost him an eye of the face'. The vivid, personal sacrifice became a powerful metaphor for any extremely high price.

⭐ Usage Tips

Emphasize the High Price

Use this phrase to express that something is not just expensive, but extremely expensive. It adds a dramatic, slightly complaining tone, perfect for everyday conversations.

Match the Verb to the Item

Remember that the verb 'costar' changes depending on the item. For one thing, use 'cuesta' (present tense) or 'costó' (past tense). For more than one thing, use 'cuestan' or 'costaron'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting 'de la cara'

Mistake: "Sometimes learners shorten the phrase to 'cuesta un ojo'."

Correction: While people might understand you, the full, classic idiom is 'costar un ojo de la cara'. Using the complete phrase sounds more natural and adds the right dramatic flair.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common and used universally.

🌎

Latin America

Extremely common and universally understood across all countries.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

costar un riñón

To cost a kidney (also very expensive).

valer un potosí

To be worth a Potosí (referring to the historically rich silver mines of Potosí, Bolivia).

⇆Opposite Meanings

ser una ganga

To be a bargain.

estar regalado

To be practically a giveaway / dirt cheap.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Costar un ojo de la cara

Question 1 of 1

If your friend says 'La cena en ese restaurante cuesta un ojo de la cara', what do they mean?

🏷️ Tags

Money & WealthBody PartsCommonly Used

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this for services, not just physical items?

Absolutely! You can use it for anything that has a high price, like a vacation, a university degree, car repairs, or concert tickets. For example, 'Arreglar el coche me costó un ojo de la cara' (Fixing the car cost me an arm and a leg).