What it means
Pricey is the everyday word for something that costs more than you would like, expensive without sounding too formal about it. A pricey restaurant, a pricey pair of trainers, a hobby that gets pricey fast. It carries a little wince, the gentle complaint of someone doing the maths and not loving the answer.
Usage examples
"Nice hotel, but the breakfast was a bit pricey, fifteen quid for some toast and a sad bowl of fruit."
"The little café on the corner is lovely but a bit pricey for an everyday coffee."
"Concert tickets have got proper pricey, double what I paid a couple of years back."
"Love that jacket, but it's well pricey for something I'm probably gonna spill chips on."
"We were gonna order another round, then saw the menu and went nah, this place is getting pricey."
Where it comes from
Pricey is just price with a casual little -y stuck on the end. That pattern's been around in English for ages, turning plain words into chatty everyday adjectives. It shows up in modern usage from the late 1800s and settled in as an easy, informal way to say something feels expensive.
Other ways to say it
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