English Reference
Idiom idiom

butcher's bill


death toll

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The war was long and the butcher's bill was high.

CONTEXTUAL

The general looked at the report and sighed at the heavy butcher's bill from the morning battle.

COMPLEX

Historians often reflect on the conflict, noting that the butcher's bill far exceeded the strategic gains achieved by either side.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bill of goods

    A set of misleading or deceptive claims.

  2. 02

    butcher's thumb

    A dishonest practice in which a butcher uses their thumb to add extra weight to a scale when weighing meat.

  3. 03

    Christmas tree bill

    A bill consisting of many riders that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments, which may provide special benefits to various groups or interests.

  4. 04

    fit the bill

    To satisfy a need; to serve a purpose; to fulfill specified requirements.

  5. 05

    foot the bill

    To pay for something.

  6. 06

    friend of Bill W.

    A recovering alcoholic, especially one who is a member of the organization Alcoholics Anonymous.

  7. 07

    pay the bills

    To provide enough income to sustain one's lifestyle.

  8. 08

    sell someone a bill of goods

    To deceive or cheat someone.

Last updated August 10, 2026