expensive question

USAGE SUMMARY

"expensive question" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a question that has significant financial implications or costs associated with it. For example, "The decision to invest in new technology raises an expensive question about our budget." Alternative expressions include "costly question" and "pricey question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But it still seems like a very expensive question not to have asked.

The New Yorker

NFL stadium promoters confront an expensive question: What if the fans stay away?

Los Angeles Times

He came right up to me, asking the same expensive question.

Huffington Post

That's an expensive question!" -- he did kind of answer the multi-million dollar question on Los Angelinos minds: Will Mark Cuban save the Dodgers?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The technology is expensive, questions over privacy remain unanswered, and there is no evidence that the cameras foster trust between members of a community and police.

The Guardian

It is also aligned with groups spending $50 million in the most confusing and expensive ballot question fight, concerning two propositions, 30 and 31, dealing with lawsuits in insurance cases.

The New York Times

As treatments are expensive, a question arises: are they efficient, as well as being effective?

BMC Health Services Research

Mr. Mills's spokesman, Alan Ray, said the move would make the tests more expensive, since questions could not be reused.

The New York Times

Although prohibitively expensive and questioned by transportation safety advocates, satellite TV in cars was popular in 2005 as an accessory in SUVs, recreational vehicles, and pickup trucks.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In response, Mr. Walentas noted that commercial market rents are expensive and questioned whether a social service organization should pay so much for rent rather than operating cost.

The New York Times

The vaccine is expensive, raising questions about alternative public health gains in countries with existing cervical cancer screening programs, which could have been obtained for the same investment.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "expensive question", ensure that the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to a question that requires significant resources to answer, or one where the answer itself has significant financial implications.

Common error

Avoid using "expensive question" when the concern is about difficulty to answer or difficulty of understanding, rather than a literal cost. If that's the case, consider using "complex question" or "difficult question" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expensive question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "expensive" modifies the noun "question". It describes a question that has significant financial implications or requires considerable resources to address. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase appears in various contexts to denote issues involving substantial costs.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expensive question" is a grammatically sound and semantically clear expression used to denote a question that carries significant financial implications or requires considerable resources to answer. Although Ludwig AI identifies it as relatively rare, its usage in reputable sources such as The New Yorker and Los Angeles Times validates its acceptability. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the context distinctly indicates whether the expense refers to the cost of answering the question or the financial consequences resulting from the answer itself. Be mindful of the potential for misinterpretation, and consider alternative phrases like "costly inquiry" or "pricey question" to add precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pricey question

Uses "pricey" as a synonym for "expensive", indicating that the question's answer has a high price or consequence.

costly inquiry

Replaces "question" with "inquiry", implying a formal investigation involving significant costs.

high-priced query

Substitutes "expensive" with "high-priced" and "question" with "query", suggesting a high value associated with finding an answer.

financially significant question

Replaces "expensive" with a more explicit description of the financial implications of the question.

cost-intensive question

Highlights that answering the question involves a large investment or expenditure of resources.

consequential question

Emphasizes the significant consequences or impact of the question, rather than just the monetary cost.

high-stakes inquiry

Implies that the inquiry has significant risks and potential rewards, resulting in high financial impact.

loaded question

Indicates a question that carries significant emotional or political weight, potentially leading to expensive outcomes.

major budgetary concern

Shifts the focus to the concern about the budget and implications from the answer.

substantial financial consideration

Focuses on the financial aspect of the question.

FAQs

How can I use "expensive question" in a sentence?

You can use "expensive question" to describe a problem that requires significant financial resources to solve, or a decision with major financial consequences. For example, "Investing in renewable energy sources raises an expensive question about long-term costs".

What's a good alternative to "expensive question"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "costly inquiry", "high-priced query", or "financially significant question".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "expensive question"?

Use "expensive question" when you want to emphasize the financial implications or the high cost associated with a particular question or decision. It's particularly apt when the cost is a primary concern or obstacle.

How does "expensive question" differ from "difficult question"?

"Expensive question" highlights financial cost or implications, while "difficult question" refers to the complexity or challenge in finding an answer. An "expensive question" might be simple to understand but costly to address, while a difficult question might be intellectually challenging regardless of cost.