Cool MateCostly vs That's worth __ grand
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Costly
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
That's worth __ grand
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Costly
| Costly | That's worth __ grand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒstli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɔːstli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts wɜːθ grænd//🇺🇸 //ðæts wɜrθ grænd// |
| Meaning | Expensive; needing a lot of money. | This means something has a value of a certain amount of money, usually thousands. |
| Example | Buying new furniture may prove too costly. | This car is worth three grand. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, become, prove, extremely, fairly, very, for, in, in terms of, be, become, prove, extremely, fairly, very, for, in, in terms of | worth a lot of grand, worth ten grand, that's worth more than grand |
| Antonyms | inexpensive, cheap | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'cost' which refers to the price itself., Used in a context where 'valuable' would be more appropriate., Assuming it only refers to money when it can also refer to high costs in other aspects, like time. | Saying 'that's worth two grands' instead of 'that's worth two grand'., Confusing 'grand' with other terms like 'cash' or 'bucks'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'costly' to describe something that requires a lot of money, especially in a neutral or formal context. Avoid using it in very casual settings, where simpler words like 'expensive' might be preferred. | Commonly used in casual conversations about money. Avoid in formal writing or business contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Costly vs That's worth __ grand
What's the difference between Costly and That's worth __ grand?
Costly: Expensive; needing a lot of money. That's worth __ grand: This means something has a value of a certain amount of money, usually thousands.
Which is more formal: Costly and That's worth __ grand?
Costly is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Costly: Buying new furniture may prove too costly. That's worth __ grand: This car is worth three grand.
Can I use Costly and That's worth __ grand interchangeably?
Not always. Costly and That's worth __ grand are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.