How to Talk About Prices in English
In our post on money, we discussed many of the different names people use to talk about it. This time, we’ll focus on a related topic: common English words for prices.
Just like for money slang, some of these expressions can be very colorful and creative, so non-native speakers may need some explanation to understand them. We're here to help!
General terms
MSRP
This acronym is short for “Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.” In other words, this is the price the producer of a product has set as standard. Of course, this is not always the price a store will try to sell it for, but it is the starting point.
- The MSRP is $29.99.
British English uses RRP (for "Recommended Retail Price") instead of MSRP.
You may also see or hear “list price,” which has the same meaning.
- This store usually sells items at a little below the list price.
Sticker price
This simply refers to the price of an item displayed on a sticker attached to it. This expression can be used even if there isn’t actually a sticker on the item.
- Everything is on sale for 20% off the sticker price.
The term "sticker shock" describes the feeling of surprise when discovering an item's high price.
- I experienced a lot of sticker shock when I was on vacation overseas. Everything was so expensive!
- Sticker shock due to inflation is keeping many customers away from stores.
Asking price
This term is often used in private sales rather than in stores. The "asking price" is what the seller of an item would like to sell it for — however, they are open to negotiation and it is possible for them to sell it at a lower price.
- If the asking price is too high, make me an offer.
*"Make (me) an offer" is a common expression in casual negotiations. It means the seller is willing to consider an amount suggested by the customer.
Haggle
"Haggle" is a casual word that is used in the same way as the verb "bargain" (explained below).
- My uncle is great at haggling, so he never pays full price.
Low prices
Let's move on to words and expressions related to prices that are low (or at least not too high!).
Fair/Reasonable
Both of these adjectives describe prices that are good but not great. So if you feel a price is at the right level to give good value for money, these words would be appropriate to use.
- After some negotiation, we agreed on a price we both thought was fair.
- These prices are pretty reasonable for what you get. I think you should buy it.
Bargain
In contrast to the two words above, a “bargain” is a price that offers excellent value for money.
- This TV was a real bargain; I got it for much cheaper than the list price.
- The store has plenty of bargains for customers who arrive early on the day of the sale.
You can also use “bargain” as a verb when negotiating.
- If you don’t like the prices in the market, you can bargain with the sellers.
A steal
"Steal" is mainly used as a verb for the action of taking property that belongs to someone else. As a noun, however, a "steal" is a deal that is so good it's almost as if you stole the item instead of paying for it!
- This bag was an absolute steal. I got it at a going-out-of-business sale.
Dirt cheap
Something that is "dirt cheap" has a very low price. In fact, it's almost as cheap as dirt!
- These headphones were dirt cheap, but the sound quality is really bad. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Rock-bottom
Advertisers may use the adjective phrase "rock-bottom" to describe prices at their lowest point possible.
- Come down to the dealership today to see our selection of cars at rock-bottom prices!
(By the way, when Hollywood star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a professional wrestler, one of his famous techniques was "The Rock Bottom"!)
High prices
Reasonable prices are great, but not everything is affordable. When prices go higher, here are some words you can use to talk about them.
Pricey/Spendy
These two words are casual alternatives for "expensive."
- Those trendy restaurants are pretty pricey. I wonder if the food is any good.
- That store is a bit too spendy for me, so I shop at the discount store instead.
Exorbitant
This word describes prices that are not just high, they're unreasonable. It has a very negative nuance and suggests that the seller is not doing business fairly.
- Many customers accused grocery stores of charging exorbitant prices for food in the years since the coronavirus pandemic.
Gouge
When companies and private sellers know that customers have few options for where to buy items, they sometimes try to take advantage of the situation by selling things at prices much higher than normal. In these cases, we say that they are "gouging" customers.
- Some ticket resellers try to gouge customers on tickets to sold-out events.
An arm and a leg
This idiom suggests that a price is so high that you have to pay in body parts instead of money! So something that "costs an arm and a leg" is extremely expensive.
- That famous restaurant serves incredible meals, but you have to pay an arm and a leg to eat there!
- He tried to charge me an arm and a leg, so I canceled the deal.
Rip-off
"Rip-off" can describe either a price or an item/service. In both cases, the price is much too high compared to the value the item or service provides. Like "exorbitant," it also acts as an insult to the seller.
- Twenty-five dollars? That's a rip-off; it's only $12 at the store down the street.
It can also be used when the price was fair, but the item is broken or somehow different than what the buyer was promised.
- This hair dryer broke one week after I bought it. What a rip-off!
"Rip off" (with no hyphen) is also a phrasal verb for the action of tricking or deceiving someone in a sale.
- The car repair shop tried to rip me off by selling me parts for my car that I didn't actually need.
There's still more to discuss about this term! It is also used to refer to an unofficial item that copies a similar product from a well-known company. For example, a bag that looks similar to one from a famous fashion brand but is much cheaper and made with different materials can be called a "rip-off."
- This part of town is famous for markets where you can find rip-offs of famous luxury goods.
Wrap-up
It's easier than ever to search for the best prices on all kinds of items and services. Hopefully you find good deals, but even if you don't, now you have the English vocabulary to talk about it!
If you’re interested in learning more English for shopping, be sure to read about the differences between “on sale” and “for sale,” as well as the proper ways to use "pay," "spend" and "cost."
