Cool MateExpensive vs That's worth __ grand
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Expensive
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That's worth __ grand
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: ExpensiveMost common: Expensive
| Expensive | That's worth __ grand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈspɛnsɪv//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈspɛnsɪv// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts wɜːθ grænd//🇺🇸 //ðæts wɜrθ grænd// |
| Meaning | Costing a lot of money. | This means something has a value of a certain amount of money, usually thousands. |
| Example | This restaurant is too expensive for a casual dinner. | This car is worth three grand. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | expensive taste, expensive hobby, expensive gift | worth a lot of grand, worth ten grand, that's worth more than grand |
| Antonyms | cheap, affordable, inexpensive | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'costly', which has a similar but slightly different nuance., Using with a negative connotation inappropriately; 'expensive' is neutral., Incorrectly using 'expensive' in place of 'costly' in more formal contexts. | Saying 'that's worth two grands' instead of 'that's worth two grand'., Confusing 'grand' with other terms like 'cash' or 'bucks'. |
| Usage notes | Used for items that cost more than average. Avoid using for inexpensive or cheap items. | Commonly used in casual conversations about money. Avoid in formal writing or business contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Expensive vs That's worth __ grand
What's the difference between Expensive and That's worth __ grand?
Expensive: Costing 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: Expensive and That's worth __ grand?
Expensive is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Expensive and That's worth __ grand?
Expensive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Expensive: This restaurant is too expensive for a casual dinner. That's worth __ grand: This car is worth three grand.
Can I use Expensive and That's worth __ grand interchangeably?
Not always. Expensive 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.