paid too much

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   Spent more money on something than it was worth or than was necessary.

   Grammar: Used after a noun or pronoun: 'I paid too much.' It can also come before a noun: 'a price paid too much.'

   Patterns

   • pay too much for something
   • paid too much for something
   • pay too much to do something

   I paid too much for these shoes — they were half price a week later.

   We paid too much for the hotel, but at least the location was perfect.

   She thinks the city paid too much for that empty lot.

2. 2phraseidiomfigurative

   Suffered a loss or cost that was greater than the benefit gained.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively with for: 'paid too much for success.'

   Patterns

   • pay too much for something
   • paid too much for success

   He got the promotion, but he paid too much for it in lost sleep and health.

   Some say the country paid too much for that victory.

Common combinations

pay too much for something

Don't pay too much for a used car without checking its history.

paid too much money

They paid too much money for a ticket they never used.

way too much

Twenty dollars for a sandwich is way too much.

pay too much attention to

He pays too much attention to what strangers say online.

end up paying too much

If you book late, you end up paying too much.

Synonyms and how they differ

overpay

A single verb meaning to pay more than is fair; it fits formal or business writing better than the phrase.

get ripped off

Informal and stronger, suggesting you were cheated, not merely that the price was high.

Opposites

Word family

overpay verb

to pay someone or something more than the usual or fair amount

overpayment noun

an amount paid that is more than what is owed

Commonly confused: paid too much or pay too much attention?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “paid too much”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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