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high price — expensive

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

used to describe something that costs a lot of money or is more expensive than usual.

Say it like a native

Textbook These goods are characterised by an elevated cost.

Native These have a high price. / They're expensive.

In speech natives just say 'expensive' or 'a high price'; 'elevated cost' is corporate.

Pattern: high price (of/for something); at a high price

In use

  • Many people complain about the high price of rent in the city.money
  • One disadvantage of living in a popular tourist destination is the high price of basic goods and services.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ The price is expensive.

✓ The price is high. / The product is expensive.

A PRICE is high or low; a PRODUCT is expensive or cheap. Prices aren't 'expensive'.

Common collocations

  • a high price — pay, high, for, fetch

Don't confuse it

Compare with 'low price', which means something is cheap or not expensive.

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