Dictionary

king's ransom en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From the exceptionally high ransom demanded for the return of a kidnapped or captured king.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) A very large sum of money.
   • Solving longitude was one of the major preoccupations of European nations from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries. King’s ransoms were offered for its solution. 2005, Michael R. Matthews, Colin F. Gauld, Arthur Stinner, “The Pendulum: Its Place in Science, Culture and Pedagogy”, in Michael R. Matthews, Colin F. Gauld, Arthur Stinner, editors, The Pendulum: Scientific, Historical, Philosophical and Educational Perspectives, page 7:
   • These gold, silver and pewter pieces are part of a king’s ransom of Spanish treasure salvaged from the sea off Florida where they had lain for 250 years. 1967 March 10, Archeology: An Ill-Starred Treasure Comes into Its Own (pictorial), LIFE, page 101
   • Except that Clarissa Astley would not have been decked out in a king's ransom of diamonds. 2010, Jane Feather, Rushed to the Altar, Pocket Books, published 2010, →ISBN, page 386:
   • "But to yonder pavilion . . . the moon is glimmering on the gilded ball which crowns its roof, and which is worth a king's ransom." 1825, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 12, in The Talisman:
   • “[…]This commercial message is sponsored by Lebenthal in the heartfelt belief that we’re not the only ones who are going to miss the bonds when they’re gone and it costs a king’s ransom to turn on the lights, boil water, or haul the garbage.” 1986 March 24, Bernice Kanner, “The Real James Bond: Jim Lebenthal’s Tax-Bill Crusade”, in New York, page 46:

Forms

Relateds

cost dear · give one's right arm · fit for a king · give one's left nut · kingsized · king-sized · king size · give one's eye-teeth · king-size

Synonyms

pretty penny · fortune · an arm and a leg

Translations (6)

sv furstlig summa (very large sum of money) · sv förmögenhet (very large sum of money) · hu vagyon (very large sum of money) · hu borsos ár (very large sum of money) · ru большо́й куш (very large sum of money) · fi jättisumma (very large sum of money)