pretty penny

From pretty (“(dated) moderately large, considerable”) + penny (“money in general”).

• "They could charge a pretty penny as they had a captive audience."
• "VVhy here may be a pretty Penny tovvards, if the Devil don't croſs it."
• "We shall have our branch line—our shares are up, sir—and we buy your three fields along the Brawl, and put a pretty penny into your pocket, Mr. Pendennis."
• "[E]verything's as nice as can be all over the house, and that watered-silk she had on cost a pretty penny."
• ""Then the Captain might still make a pretty penny on Amita," said the Scotchman."
• "He didn't know—he expected she was spending a pretty penny on dress."
• ""It must have cost you a pretty penny. It's lucky you can afford it." / "I can't," said Philip. "But what do I care!""
• "It costs a pretty penny / Just to stay afloat / It takes a lot of lolly / Trying to be jolly"
• "[Stephen Allen] Schwarzman's firm makes a pretty penny in a number of finance fields, including real estate and hedge funds, yet carries the most heft for its work in private equity—a force that is remaking corporate America and spreading its influence overseas."

• an arm and a leg
• fair penny
• fine penny
• fortune

• give one's eye-teeth
• give one's left nut
• give one's right arm