# king's ransom

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/kings-ransom
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A very large sum of money.

## Examples

- That rare watch costs a king's ransom.
- You pay a king's ransom for a tiny apartment in this city.
- Organic honey sometimes costs a king's ransom at the local market.
- The antique painting was sold at auction for a king's ransom, surprising everyone in the room.
- Repairing the engine on such an old car will cost a king's ransom, so you should probably just buy a new one.
- The company paid a king's ransom to hire the famous consultant, hoping she could save their failing business.
- Even though the wedding dress cost a king's ransom, she felt it was worth the price for her special day.
- Although the developers spent a king's ransom on the new software, the final product failed to meet the basic expectations of the users.

## Origin

Derived from the historical practice of demanding an exceptionally high sum for the return of a kidnapped or captured monarch. The term preserves the memory of the substantial financial levies required to secure the release of a sovereign, whose freedom was priced according to the value of the crown itself.

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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.