What is the difference between 'break a bank' and 'cost an arm and a leg'?

"Cost an arm and a leg" is something that is very expensive for you to the extent that you'll have to go without other things. Like something that will cost you dearly. "Break the bank" is something that is so expensive you can't afford it. In the olden days, banks used to actually run out of money and that's when they went "broke". (Saying you're "broke" means you don't have any money or you ran out of money.) It's also as common to say something "won't break the bank" to say that it's expensive but you can stretch to cover it. Examples: * "My kid got into the fancy college he always wanted to go to. It's going to cost an arm and a leg but my wife and I think we can make it work" * "Man, if I bought a boat like that, it'd break the bank!"

There isn’t really a difference honestly, both will get the same message across. The only small nuance I can think of is this - “Break the bank” would be used more so for large, single purchases like a new appliance, but a purchase that is optional. Like upgrading your car. “Cost an arm and a leg” can be used in the above situation but may be more often used to refer to an expense that you can’t really avoid making. “Fixing my car will cost an arm and a leg” This could vary as well depending on where you are. Long story short, they can both be used and largely mean the same thing.

There is really no difference meaning wise. Though, one is usually used before you buy something; “that restaurant is so expensive! It going to break the bank!”. While the other is usually for after you bought something; “that restaurant was too expensive! It cost an arm and a leg!”

Honestly, there isn't much of a difference. Both phrases refer to something being very expensive. There are slightly different connotations between the phrases. If something "costs an arm and a leg," it means the speaker thinks the item is objectively expensive. If something is going to "break the bank," it means the speaker thinks the item is out of the price range specifically of the person paying for it.

Thank you everyone. <3

They both mean that something is very expensive, but they aren't identical. "Break the bank" is usually preceded by "don't" or "won't" to talk about less expensive alternatives to something costly. For example, "luxury hotels that won't break the bank." Basically, the phrase is usually used in marketing to promote more affordable alternatives to usually expensive things. You use "costs an arm and a leg" to complain about the burdensome price of something. For example, "my fridge broke and getting it fixed is going to cost an arm and a leg." It is often used when something is costly enough to be inconvenient, especially if you feel like it should be cheaper.

It would be break THE bank btw .

It's usually "break **the** bank". They both refer to something expensive. "Break the bank" implies that it's so expensive, you won't have any money left, at all. You'll be broke. Skint. "cost an arm and a leg" *just* means it's expensive. Maybe you're rich, so that's OK - but it was more than the normal price for such things. It was a costly item. The new iPhone costs an arm and a leg, but I still got one, because I've had a promotion, so it won't break the bank.