Luxury vs That privilege cost me

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Luxury

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun

That privilege cost me

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Luxury
 LuxuryThat privilege cost me
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈlʌkʃəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlʌkʃəri/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæt ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ kɒst miː//🇺🇸 //ðæt ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ kɔst mi//
MeaningA state of great comfort and expensive living.Something special that you have but others don't, which you had to pay for.
ExampleShe treated herself to a luxury vacation in the Maldives.That privilege cost me years of hard work and dedication.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsgreat, pure, sheer, touch, enjoy, afford, live in, hotel, car, coach, in luxury, have the luxury of (doing) something, a life of luxury, the lap of luxury, expensive, unaffordable, affordable, afford, enjoy, have, tax, have every luxury, great, pure, sheer, touch, enjoy, afford, live in, hotel, car, coach, in luxury, have the luxury of (doing) something, a life of luxury, the lap of luxurypay the cost for privilege, enjoy the privilege, lose the privilege, grant a privilege, afford the privilege
Antonymsnecessity, basic, poverty-
Common mistakesConfusing with 'luxurious', which is an adjective., Using in a negative context, where 'luxury' usually has a positive connotation., Overusing in everyday conversations, where simpler terms may suffice.Confusing 'privilege' with 'right'; privilege is earned, right is inherent., Using 'cost' without indicating the expense involved., Omitting context that clarifies what the privilege is.
Usage notesUsed to describe expensive items or experiences. Appropriate in discussions about travel, products, or lifestyle. Avoid in casual conversations or when discussing basic needs.Use in contexts referring to something you gained that required a significant effort or expense. Common in discussions about social status or benefits. Less appropriate for informal casual chats.

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Luxury
That privilege cost me

Frequently asked questions: Luxury vs That privilege cost me

What's the difference between Luxury and That privilege cost me?

Luxury: A state of great comfort and expensive living. That privilege cost me: Something special that you have but others don't, which you had to pay for.

Which is more common: Luxury and That privilege cost me?

Luxury is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Luxury: She treated herself to a luxury vacation in the Maldives. That privilege cost me: That privilege cost me years of hard work and dedication.

Can I use Luxury and That privilege cost me interchangeably?

Not always. Luxury and That privilege cost me 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.