a pretty penny—大筆錢。除了我們熟知的cost a lot of money(花很多錢)以外,這個習語也能強調「錢的量」。penny是英國最小的貨幣單位,pretty在此則表達「大量」,大量的一分錢,就是「一大筆錢」。
看看老外聊天時這麼用a pretty penny:
Phil: So do you feel like going to the new vegetarian restaurant?
Lucy: Is it the one close by? I heard each dish costs a pretty penny.
Phil: I think it's no big deal spending some of your fortune occasionally.
Lucy: Well, I'm trying to cut back on expenses.
Phil: No wonder you brown-bag it every day to work now.
菲爾:有一家新開的素食餐廳,你要去嗎?
露西:在附近那家嗎?聽說每一道菜都非常貴。
菲爾:我覺得偶爾花錢享受一下也無妨。
露西:嗯,我想試著減少開銷。
菲爾:難怪你現在每天上班都自己帶午餐。
a pretty penny例句精選:
I said, it will cost you a pretty penny.
我是說,會花你相當大的一分錢。
This blunder, which is due to my ignorance, has cost me a pretty penny.
這次疏忽是我的無知,使我損失了不少錢。
Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny.
為了整修那所房子,你得花很多錢。
拓展學習:
cost 費用
extravagant 奢侈的
invaluable 無價的
frugal 簡譜的
live in luxury 奢侈
dig into one's pocket 某人花錢不手軟
a penny pincher 鐵公雞