pay through the nose

Origin uncertain; according to the American etymologist and linguist Anatoly Liberman (born 1937), probably a nautical term drawing an analogy between paying a large sum of money and paying out an anchor’s cable or chain through the hawseholes at the bow (metaphorically the “nose”) of a ship. He is unconvinced of other explanations such as the following: * The term is said to derive from the story of the Norse god Odin levying a tax on the nose of every Swede. However, Liberman is of the view that it is unclear why a god would require money. * Alternatively, the term is said to be from Old Norse nef-gildi (“poll tax payable to the king”, literally “nose-tax”), nose being a synecdoche referring to a person, because the Irish were required to pay such a tax to the Vikings who conquered them (795–1169 C.E.). Liberman points out that the English term is only attested centuries after this period.

• "Observe here the happy estate of our Ancestors under Monarchy, who, if they gained but this advantage […] of receiving a few good Grants, and enjoying a pittance of Freedom, once in 4 or 5 ages when their King was too young to play Rex, and there hapned a wise and honest Protector; yet were sure to pay through the nose for it afterwards with double and treble interest for forbearance."
• "But vvhen they came to ſeek for Match, and Bullet, and Povvder, there vvas none to be had. The Fanaticks had bought it all up, and made them pay for it moſt unconſcionably, and through the noſe."
• "[F]armers of the revenue vvere admitted, vvho, far from being gratified for their preſence, as they are in their ovvn aſſemblies, vvere obliged to pay through the noſe for their reception."
• "[S]he [a lady]'s a mere nobody, as one may ſay, till ſhe can get herſelf a huſband, being ſhe knovvs nothing of buſineſs, and is made to pay for every thing through the noſe."
• "Several persons have already left off snuff-taking, in consequence of the additional duty on tobacco, observing that they have no idea of paying through the nose for the expence of war."
• "I seem to understand that this gentleman […] is the fons et origo of the trouble; and, from what I gather, he has already paid through the nose."
• ""You'll pay through the nose for this, you scoundrel," Sexton whimpered. "I'll fix you, you traitor.""
• "[T]hat fellow would milk the settlements somehow, and make his family pay through the nose to keep him out of bankruptcy or perhaps even gaol!"
• "Somebody figured out that a harpooned fish dies quicker and tastes better than one caught by the long-liners' nets. Whole Foods pays through the nose for it, all over the country. So do restaurants."
• "At a time when other entertainment is available at a sliver of the price from Netflix and other streaming services, live sport is the only thing left to induce viewers to pay through the nose for pay-TV."

• an arm and a leg
• expensive