HYPERBOLE AND THE COST OF A THING

 

Hyperbole may be a part of the brain's workings. We tend to exaggerate and inflate reality in an attempt to dramatize it. We are, after all, actors on the stage of life, always trying to draw the attention of our audience. We can exemplify this when we refer to how much we paid for an item, a service, or a purchase. English and Spanish use hyperbole when referring to cost, costar: 
Cost an arm and a leg (a pretty penny, a fortune, a bomb, the earth, a bundle, a pretty packet, a ton, a great deal).  
Costar un ojo de la cara (una barbaridad, un potosí, una pasta, un Perú, un Congo, un huevo), salir por un riñón, salir caro, comerse por las patas

— “Taking part in this event, and thus making a gift to the agencies, costs a pretty penny.” Portsmouth Herald, NH – 8 Nov. 2003. USA. || “… it cost me a fortune to get one of them.” The Antioch Review, vol. 68, issue 4, 2010. US. || “… considering it cost me a pretty packet to live there.” Ru Freeman, Sleeping Alone, 2012. US. || “It cost a ton to get it cleaned.” Karen Bender, Refund, 2005. US. || “It cost a great deal of money.” Sports Illustrated, November 6, 1989. US.

— “… como cuando quiso la pianola que me costó un ojo de la cara…” Ricardo Elizondo Elizondo, Setenta veces siete, 1987. Méx. || “Digo ahora maldito partido porque nos costó un huevo.” Diego Armando Maradona, Yo soy el Diego, 2000. Arg. || “… está llena de festivales y apuntarse a todos cuesta una pasta.” El País, 09/05/2003. Esp. || “… y muevo a la gente que tengo en comandancia y que me cuesta un Congo…” Félix de Azúa, Diario de un hombre humillado, 1987. Esp. || “… con ochenta plátanos cuesta un sol.” Julio Ramón Ribeyro, Los geniecillos dominicales, 1983. Perú.