All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2517

“Did You Spend a Fortune? How to Talk About Your Expensive Purchases”

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and practical episode, Lindsay and Michelle answer a listener’s question about the idiom “cost a fortune” and provide listeners with natural, real-life ways to discuss expensive purchases in American English. They go beyond just vocabulary, offering context for how native speakers use these expressions—with cultural insights, fun examples, and extra phrases and stories from their own lives. Perfect for ESL learners looking to upgrade their conversational skills around money, value, and spending in the U.S.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Topic: Everyday Expensive Items

[01:01] Michelle Kaplan reels listeners in with a relatable question:
“Cocktails, avocado toast, and coffee—what do all of these have in common? Depending on where you go, they can cost a small fortune.”

• The hosts describe how common items can often be surprisingly expensive, which is increasingly relevant with rising prices and inflation.
• They set up the discussion of “cost a fortune” and why it's such a useful phrase.

2. Listener Question & Cultural Reference

[03:52] Lindsay reads Fereshte's question:
A listener references hearing “cost a fortune” in an episode of Seinfeld and asks for clarification on the meaning and uses of the phrase.

[04:27] Michelle:
“I love it too, Fereshte. Thank you so much. Thank you for the beautiful review. Thank you for the wonderful question.”

• Michelle and Lindsay bond over their love of Seinfeld and establish the episode’s purpose: explaining “cost a fortune” and related idioms.

3. Meaning and Range of “Cost a Fortune”

[06:07–07:29]

• “It means it’s very expensive, but it’s interesting that we use it to talk about avocado toast and cocktails all the way up to buying a house.” – Michelle Kaplan [06:07]
• The phrase isn't always literal—a $5 coffee or $100,000 car could both "cost a fortune" depending on context and expectations.
• Usage is subjective and relative: it often reflects surprise or frustration more than bank-breaking cost.

4. Variations: “A Small Fortune” vs. “A Fortune”

[07:14–08:33] Discussion:

• “A small fortune” amplifies the surprise about expensive everyday items (“It cost a small fortune for avocado toast.”).
• Lindsay: “Would you say that if you’re buying like a five bedroom house?…You expect that to be a fortune. You could still say it costs a fortune, but ‘small fortune’ maybe doesn’t quite fit.” [07:46]
• Michelle: “Small fortune is…for those smaller items…you want to be kind of emphatic about it…It’s just kind of a fun thing to add.” [08:05]

5. Personal Stories: Complaining About Prices

[08:42–11:15] Lively Anecdotes:
Both hosts share stories about situations where they were surprised by high prices and sometimes even walked away.

• “I can't believe I just spent $12 on two coffees.” – Lindsay [09:04]
• “I desperately wanted a coffee … they were like, oh, it was $12 for a coffee … and I was like, just forget it.” – Michelle [09:31]
• They discuss events and places where expensive items are unavoidable (airports, sports games, concerts).
• “At a stadium, at an arena, for sure, you know that it’s going to cost a small fortune. Or at the airport, that’s another one.” – Michelle [11:00]

Insight: These stories help listeners see how idioms reflect real frustration with costs, making the vocabulary authentic and useful.

6. Grammar Point: Past Tense Confusion

[12:04–12:39] English Tip:

• The verb “cost” does not take an -ed ending.
• “We don’t change it, right? … I’ve heard a lot of native speakers say maybe make a mistake and say ‘costed,’ but not right. It’s not right.” – Lindsay [12:13]

7. Other Expressions with “Fortune”

[13:05–14:21] Thematic Expansion:

• Fame and fortune: “All she wanted was fame and fortune, but she was unwilling to work for it.”
• To make a fortune / make his fortune: “He made his fortune painting cars.”
• To spend a fortune: “I don’t think we should cheap out, but I don’t want to spend a fortune either.”
  • Bonus: “Cheap out” means to act cheaply or spend as little as possible.

8. Telling Someone’s Fortune

[16:18–19:08] Fun Tangent:

• “To tell someone’s fortune” relates to predicting their future, not money.
• Michelle shares a story about visiting a fortune teller in Atlantic City, noting the cultural context:
  • “I got my fortune told in Atlantic City … Apparently I was told that I would have a boy and a girl one day.” – Michelle [19:03]
• Quick discussion about Atlantic City—its heyday, current status, and how it's a bit like "the Vegas of the East Coast."

9. Role Play: Using "Cost a Fortune" in Conversation

[19:22–20:12] Practical Application:
Michelle and Lindsay demonstrate natural usage through a short dialogue:

• “I got these shoes, but they cost a fortune. I’m considering returning them.”
• “Keep them if you like them. I spent a fortune on a sweater this weekend, but it’s so perfect for the cold weather.”

Grammar Reminder: “Cost” does not change in past tense.

10. Cultural Reflections: Money Talk in the U.S.

[20:30–21:12] Context & Takeaway:

• Discussing prices and complaining about costs is very common and not taboo in the U.S.
• “I think this is a good skill to brush up on because…money is a huge deal for human beings. So this is going to come up, and there are kind of tasteful ways to talk about it and not. But commenting on prices going up is not a bad thing.” – Michelle [21:03]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Avocado toast—man…that can cost a fortune. Coffee costs a fortune. Oh, my gosh.” – Michelle [03:28]
• “Sometimes you’re just trapped, right? At a stadium, at an arena, for sure, you know that it’s going to cost a small fortune. Or at the airport…” – Michelle [11:00]
• “We don’t change it, right? So a lot, I’ve heard a lot of native speakers say maybe make a mistake and say costed, but not right.” – Lindsay [12:13]
• “There’s a lot that came out of this episode, Michelle. A lot of city tips for our listeners. Really good context here.” – Lindsay [20:12]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:01] Kickoff: Why we need phrases for expensive items
• [03:52] Listener’s question introduction
• [06:07] “Cost a fortune” meaning and uses
• [07:29] “A small fortune” vs. “a fortune”
• [09:12] Real-life price shock stories
• [12:13] Grammar: Past tense of cost
• [13:05] Expressions: “Fame and fortune,” “Make/spend a fortune”
• [16:18] “Tell someone’s fortune” and Atlantic City context
• [19:22] Role play dialogue
• [20:30] Cultural reflections and practical English tip

Takeaways

• “Cost a fortune” and “small fortune” are natural, common ways to express that something feels very expensive—especially when the cost seems high for what’s being bought.
• These phrases are subjective, flexible, and useful for connection in daily American English.
• Related words/expressions (“fame and fortune,” “make a fortune,” “cheap out”) add richness and variety to your vocabulary.
• Talking about prices and complaining about cost is normal—and often a shared point of connection.
• Remember the grammar: the past tense of “cost” is “cost.”
• Use these expressions to fit in naturally during money and value-related conversations.

Try them out in your next conversation—and remember: it’s about connection, not perfection!