# butcher's bill

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/butchers-bill
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

death toll

## Examples

- The war was long and the butcher's bill was high.
- The general looked at the report and sighed at the heavy butcher's bill from the morning battle.
- Historians often reflect on the conflict, noting that the butcher's bill far exceeded the strategic gains achieved by either side.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.