To cost dear

To cost dear
Cost Cost (k[o^]st; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cost}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Costing}.] [OF. coster, couster, F. co[^u]ter, fr. L. constare to stand at, to cost; con- + stare to stand. See {Stand}, and cf. {Constant}.] 1. To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as in barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost, expenditure, relinquishment, or loss of; as, the ticket cost a dollar; the effort cost his life. [1913 Webster]

A diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Though it cost me ten nights' watchings. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. To require to be borne or suffered; to cause. [1913 Webster]

To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{To cost dear}, to require or occasion a large outlay of money, or much labor, self-denial, suffering, etc. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • cost dear — cost (someone) dear if something that someone does, especially something stupid, costs them dear, it causes them a lot of problems. Later that year he attacked a photographer, an incident that cost him dear …   New idioms dictionary

  • Cost — (k[o^]st; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cost}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Costing}.] [OF. coster, couster, F. co[^u]ter, fr. L. constare to stand at, to cost; con + stare to stand. See {Stand}, and cf. {Constant}.] 1. To require to be given, expended, or laid …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cost — (k[o^]st; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cost}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Costing}.] [OF. coster, couster, F. co[^u]ter, fr. L. constare to stand at, to cost; con + stare to stand. See {Stand}, and cf. {Constant}.] 1. To require to be given, expended, or laid …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dear — I Everyday English Slang in Ireland adj expensive II Irish Slang expensive III Jamaican Slang Glossary Expensive. Dat cost dear. (That is very expensive.) …   English dialects glossary

  • cost someone dear — ● cost * * * cost someone dear british phrase to cause a lot of problems for someone, or to make them lose a lot of money This is a mistake that could cost the company dear. Thesaurus: to cause problems for someone or somethingsynonym Main entry …   Useful english dictionary

  • dear — [dɪə ǁ dɪr] adjective 1. especially BrE costing a lot of money; = EXPENSIVE: • I could never afford a house around here they re far too dear. 2. FINANCE BANKING if mo …   Financial and business terms

  • cost sb dear — ► to cause someone to have a lot problems or to lose a lot of money: »The Government s lack of knowledge about IT systems has undoubtedly cost it dear. Main Entry: ↑dear …   Financial and business terms

  • cost someone dear — cost (someone) dear if something that someone does, especially something stupid, costs them dear, it causes them a lot of problems. Later that year he attacked a photographer, an incident that cost him dear …   New idioms dictionary

  • cost somebody dear — cost sb ˈdear idiom to make sb suffer a lot • That one mistake has cost him dear over the years. Main entry: ↑costidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • dear — [dir] adj. [ME dere < OE deore, precious, costly, beloved, akin to Du duur, Ger teuer] 1. much loved; beloved 2. much valued; highly thought of; esteemed: used with a title or name as a polite form of address, as in writing letters [Dear Sir]… …   English World dictionary

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