expensive thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expensive thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an item or object that has a high cost or price. Example: "The car he bought was the most expensive thing he had ever owned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's a very expensive thing.

The New York Times

A big expensive thing to play with.

The New York Times

It's a really expensive thing".

The Guardian - Film

"It's the most expensive thing I own".

The New York Times

Property aside, what's the most expensive thing you've bought?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"And it's the most expensive thing in the world".

The New York Times - Magazine

A lemon tart in itself isn't an expensive thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"There's not one terribly expensive thing in here," he said.

The New York Times

"It's the most expensive thing in the apartment," he said.

The New York Times

Aside from property, what's the most expensive thing you've bought?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What's the most expensive thing named after a footballer?

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To specify that the item has relative high cost in comparison to other similar items. For example: "Even though the phone was an expensive thing, it didn't have the features that users wanted."

Common error

While "expensive thing" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Opt for synonyms like "costly item" or more specific descriptions to vary your vocabulary and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expensive thing" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "expensive" modifies the noun "thing". As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound. It serves to identify something with a considerable cost.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Lifestyle

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

18%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expensive thing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe items or activities with considerable costs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and versatile phrase. While it appears most often in news and media contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal writing. For more formal contexts, synonyms like "costly item" may be preferable. The phrase's high frequency and consistent usage across various sources indicate its widespread acceptance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

costly item

Focuses more on the financial cost associated with the item.

high-priced object

Emphasizes the high price or value of the object.

luxury item

Implies the item is not a necessity and is associated with wealth.

valuable possession

Highlights the worth or importance the owner places on the item.

premium product

Suggests a product of superior quality and price.

pricey commodity

Emphasizes the high cost and market value of a resource or product.

dear purchase

Highlights the considerable expense involved in buying something.

lavish acquisition

Implies a luxurious and extravagant purchase.

valuable asset

Focuses on the long-term worth and potential benefit of the item.

substantial investment

Indicates the item was purchased with the expectation of future gain or benefit.

FAQs

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

You can use "expensive thing" to describe something that costs a lot of money. For example, "Buying a house is often the most "expensive thing" most people ever do."

What are some alternatives to saying "expensive thing"?

Alternatives include "costly item", "high-priced object", or "luxury item", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "most expensive thing" or "more expensive thing"?

"Most expensive thing" is used to describe the item with the highest price, while "more expensive thing" is used to compare two items, indicating one costs more than the other. For example: "This car is the most expensive thing I own." versus "This car is a more expensive thing to maintain than my old one."

What's the difference between "expensive thing" and "valuable possession"?

"Expensive thing" focuses primarily on the monetary cost, while "valuable possession" emphasizes the worth or importance an individual places on an item, which may not always correlate with its monetary value.