# sticker shock

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sticker-shock
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Disgust, shock, or fright upon learning the price of an item offered for sale.

## Examples

- I felt sticker shock when I saw the price of the coffee.
- He has sticker shock because the car repairs are very expensive.
- She avoids sticker shock by checking the price tags before she shops.
- Many shoppers experienced sticker shock when they saw how much the new electronics cost this year.
- You might get sticker shock when you see the monthly rent for a small apartment in the city center.
- We wanted to fly home for the holidays, but the sticker shock from the ticket prices changed our minds.
- After the waiter brought the bill for our dinner, the added service fees gave us a real sense of sticker shock.
- Upon reviewing the architect's final estimate for the home renovation, the couple suffered from severe sticker shock and immediately requested a more modest proposal.

## Origin

First recorded c. 1981, the term refers to the adhesive price stickers commonly affixed to consumer goods. It describes the physical encounter between a prospective buyer and the unexpectedly high cost displayed on the label.

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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.