Cost peanuts 💰🥜
Meaning
To be very cheap or inexpensive.
Origin
The phrase's origin is delightfully simple, rooted in the 19th century. Back then, peanuts were indeed a very inexpensive commodity, often sold by street vendors for a pittance. If something could be bought for a fraction of a penny or a mere handful of these tiny nuts, it was clearly a bargain. This direct association with cheapness cemented the phrase in the English language as a vivid way to describe something that costs next to nothing.
Cost peanuts represented with emoji💰🥜
This playful arrangement of a moneybag and a peanut not only illustrates the delightful idiom "cost peanuts" but also functions as a miniature mnemonic, teaching the viewer how a small, commonplace item (peanut) can be humorously equated to something of great value (moneybag) to signify extreme cheapness. Note how the juxtaposition creates a whimsical visual pun, underscoring the delightful absurdity inherent in language.
Examples
- I was so relieved to find out that the repair would cost peanuts.
- Don't worry about buying me a gift; a small token would be perfect, it'll cost peanuts.
- I asked the goblin if his enchanted buttons were expensive, and he just laughed, saying they cost peanuts.
- The wizard's spell to make toast fly cost peanuts, but the landing fees for the toast were astronomical.
Frequently asked questions
'Cost peanuts' is an idiom. Unlike proverbs, which often offer advice, idioms are phrases whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meaning of the words used, and 'cost peanuts' means something is very cheap.
The opposite of 'cost peanuts' is to cost an arm and a leg. This idiom also uses figurative language to emphasize a high price, suggesting something is prohibitively expensive.
While the phrase 'cost peanuts' is idiomatic, it does have a literal connection to the past when peanuts were incredibly inexpensive. You wouldn't typically use it to describe the actual price of peanuts today, as their market value can fluctuate.
While 'cost peanuts' is widely understood in English-speaking countries, some regions might have similar idioms for very cheap items. However, the direct phrase 'cost peanuts' is the most common and recognized way to express extreme affordability across the board.