What does “it’s gonna run you” mean in American English?
Buying Last-Minute Plane Tickets To The Bahamas
A2 English listening practice · American English · Picked for people who know a little
Americans often quote prices with the verb run: “that’s gonna run you $50”, “a new tire will run you about $200”. The verb works like “cost,” but it sounds more casual, especially in shops, repair counters, and travel agents. The pattern is so common in American English that customers absorb it without noticing: a mechanic says “it’ll run you 600 bucks” and everyone knows the price. British English speakers usually say “that’ll be” or “that comes to” instead.
In this clip, an American travel agent quotes a price for four one-way tickets to Freeport, Bahamas: “Four one-way tickets are gonna run you $360.” The phrase makes the quote feel friendly rather than formal.
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Harder words in this video
These words are harder than A2. Here is what they mean.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-US 2012 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.
- ▸In American auto-repair shops and tire stores
- ▸In American travel-agent and airline counter conversations
- ▸In American real-estate and rental-pricing talk
- ▸In American restaurant and catering quotes
- ▸In American sitcoms about everyday transactions (Schitt’s Creek, Modern Family)