give one's left nut en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
The loss of a testicle would be a high price to pay for something. This synonym of give one's eye-teeth and give one's right arm most likely came after those, having been modeled after them facetiously.
Meanings
-
(slang, vulgar) Pay a very high price for something.
Nick Lazarus would give his left nut to see me convicted and disbarred.
1997, Carolyn Wheat, Mean Streak, page 18:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| giving one's left nut | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| given one's left nut | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| gave one's left nut | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| gives one's left nut | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Hypernyms
fork over · give · fork out · pay · cough up
Synonyms
king's ransom · an arm and a leg · give one's eye-teeth · pretty penny · give one's right arm