cost peanuts

USAGE SUMMARY

"cost peanuts" is a valid idiom in both spoken and written English.
It is used to describe something that has a very low cost. For example, "I got these new shoes for just $20 - they practically cost peanuts!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Experiments that were once impossibly expensive now cost peanuts.

The Economist

"Funding the film wasn't a difficulty – it cost peanuts.

The Guardian - Film

When your last film came from nowhere, cost peanuts, seduced critics, made a mint and won five Oscars (including best film), you can write your own cheque for the next one.

The Guardian - Film

Here's a campaign, spending millions of dollars traditionally: and a couple of passionate people did a video that cost peanuts, it was the most successful piece of content from the campaign, was seen by tens of millions of people and broke internet records.

The Guardian - Music

"In many cases the government is abolishing bodies that cost peanuts but provide invaluable scientific or other expert advice to government".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Or will they just move on to the next city where beer is cheaper than bottled water and a two-bedroom apartment costs peanuts to rent?

The New York Times - Magazine

Twenty years ago, a pair of films – Slacker and Straight Out of Brooklyn – began a brief and bright boom time for microbudget film-making, when several films seemingly costing peanuts and paid for on credit cards became sizable commercial hits.

The Guardian

It costs peanuts to fund London Student and it is profoundly sad that vice-chancellors will not put forward funding for a vital source of community, news and scrutiny".

The Guardian

I also had a wider sense of values being chipped away at by subclauses: thou shall not steal, except if it's not that big a thing; thou shall not kill, apart from … So I started on the story of a man, a good and honest man, who does something few of us would object to when he helps his daughter after she is nabbed for shoplifting a sachet of shampoo that costs peanuts".

The Guardian

Our list includes many high-priced models: The least expensive, the $53,645 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible, costs peanuts compared with the $252,000 Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder.

Forbes

"The cost is peanuts compared to what is happening," Mr. Yanev said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cost peanuts" to emphasize the insignificance of an expense, particularly when contrasting it with a larger sum or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "cost peanuts" when discussing significant investments or expenses, as it undermines the gravity of the situation. For example, it's inappropriate to say, "The new factory cost peanuts" if it actually cost millions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cost peanuts" functions as an idiomatic expression used to describe something that is very inexpensive or of little value. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity and common usage in everyday language.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cost peanuts" is a valid idiom meaning something is very inexpensive. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, predominantly appearing in News & Media. While other alternatives, such as "cost next to nothing", exist, "cost peanuts" offers a more colorful expression of minimal expense. Remember that it can create misunderstanding in the context of significant investments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cost next to nothing

Emphasizes the extremely low cost, implying it's almost free.

cost practically nothing

Indicates the expense is so minimal it's negligible.

cost a pittance

Highlights the insignificance of the price.

cost a song

Suggests a very cheap price, often used in informal contexts.

cost very little

Directly states the low expense without idiomatic flair.

come cheap

Focuses on the affordability and low price point.

be dirt cheap

Emphasizes an extremely low price, often with a connotation of low quality.

be a steal

Suggests the item is underpriced and a great value.

go for a song

Implies being sold at a significantly reduced price.

be a bargain

Highlights the favorable price relative to the value received.

FAQs

How can I use "cost peanuts" in a sentence?

You can use "cost peanuts" to describe something inexpensive. For example, "Compared to the repairs, the initial purchase "cost peanuts"".

What's a similar phrase to "cost peanuts"?

Similar phrases include "cost next to nothing", "cost a pittance", or "cost a song".

Is it appropriate to use "cost peanuts" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "cost peanuts" is generally more suitable for informal or conversational contexts. In formal writing, consider using "cost very little" or "was inexpensive".

Is "cost peanuts" always about money?

Primarily, yes. The idiom relates to the monetary cost of something. However, you could metaphorically apply it to effort or time, implying minimal investment: "The preparation "cost practically nothing" in terms of time".