What it means
A very British way to say something was absurdly expensive. You use it when the price feels properly painful, whether it's rent, train tickets, a round at the pub, or some tiny purchase that had no right costing that much. It's casual, moany, and built for a good grumble.
Usage examples
"That vintage sofa cost a bomb and it’s not even comfy. Now I’m skint, living on beans on toast, and pretending the overdraft is just a quirky subscription."
"Those concert tickets cost a bomb, but it was worth every penny."
"Do not get the car serviced there, they charge a bomb for everything."
"Two drinks and a packet of crisps cost a bomb in that pub. I walked out feeling financially mugged."
"We looked at flats near the station, but they all cost a bomb, so it's back to scrolling and sighing."
Where it comes from
In British English, bomb has long been slang for a large sum of money or a fortune. By the 20th century, cost a bomb was being used for anything painfully expensive. It stuck because it sounds punchy and a bit dramatic, which suits that classic British habit of having a moan about prices.
Other ways to say it
This expression also appears in
