This idiom describes paying an excessively high price or enduring a heavy cost, often unwillingly, as if the payment is painfully extracted. It conveys exploitation or overpayment, typically used in financial, consumer, or personal contexts to critique unfair costs.

The phrase carries a tone of grievance, outrage, or resignation, reflecting cultural values of fairness and the human tendency to resent gouging. Its visceral imagery evokes physical discomfort, resonating in scenarios like inflated prices or penalties. The idiom highlights the burden of cost, making it a striking metaphor for financial pain.

The phrase likely originated in 9th-century Ireland, tied to the Danish ‘nose tax,’ where defaulters had their noses slit, as noted in medieval chronicles. Its modern use emerged in 17th-century Britain, with *The London Gazette* (1670s) using it for exorbitant fines. The idiom gained traction in 19th-century commerce, notably in *The Economist* (1850s) for trade costs. Its spread was amplified by consumer culture and media, especially in the U.S. and U.K., for its vivid imagery and relevance to economic exploitation.