king's ransom
C1Formal and literary; occasionally used in informal contexts for hyperbolic effect.
Definition
Meaning
A very large sum of money, especially one paid for the release of a kidnapped person or to obtain something extremely valuable.
Any extremely valuable amount or collection; used hyperbolically to describe the high cost or worth of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase is a metaphorical idiom, not a literal description of a monarch's ransom. It inherently implies exorbitant cost or value.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Historically, 'king's' might be more common in UK contexts due to monarchy, but the phrase is equally established in AmE.
Connotations
Carries the same connotations of immense value and historical/royal prestige in both varieties.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both varieties, primarily in written and formal spoken contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb: pay/cost/etc.] + a king's ransom + [Preposition: for/on] + [NP]a king's ransom + [Preposition: of/in] + [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cost/pay a king's ransom”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe an excessive acquisition cost or investment, e.g., 'The company paid a king's ransom for that prime real estate.'
Academic
Rare. May appear in historical or literary texts discussing medieval ransom payments or figuratively in economic analyses.
Everyday
Used hyperbolically to complain about the high price of something, e.g., 'These concert tickets cost a king's ransom!'
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The painting must be worth a king's ransom.
- He paid a king's ransom for that vintage car.
- The ransom demanded for the ambassador's release was a veritable king's ransom.
- Investors spent a king's ransom developing the new technology.
- The manuscript, a king's ransom in historical value, was secured in a climate-controlled vault.
- Despite paying a king's ransom in legal fees, the verdict was not in their favour.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a medieval king being captured. The money demanded for his release would be unimaginably huge – that's a 'king's ransom.'
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE IS WEALTH / EXCESSIVE COST IS A HISTORICAL PAYMENT FOR ROYALTY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as 'королевский выкуп' without context, as it may sound odd. The idiom is best translated as 'целое состояние', 'баснословная сумма', or 'куча денег' depending on register.
Common Mistakes
- Using it without an article: *'It cost king's ransom.' Correct: 'It cost a king's ransom.'
- Confusing the possessive: *'kings ransom' or *'king ransom'. Correct: 'king's ransom'.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'a king's ransom' primarily express?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. It is a fixed idiom used figuratively to mean a vast sum of money.
No, 'king's ransom' is the fixed form of the idiom. 'Queen's ransom' is occasionally seen but is non-standard and may be used for deliberate stylistic effect.
It is formal and literary, but it can be used informally for dramatic or humorous exaggeration about high prices.
It originates from the medieval practice of demanding enormous sums of money for the release of a captured king, the most valuable prisoner possible.