extravagance
Excessive or wasteful spending
The way of spending too much money and not caring if it is more than you need or can afford.
[someone] cannot afford such extravagance
- They see the project as an unnecessary extravagance at a time of budget cuts.
- Years of extravagance and poor planning finally pushed the company into debt.
- Public anger grew over the government’s extravagance with taxpayers’ money.
- After a week of holiday extravagance, he decided to cut up his credit card.
- Her parents warned her that such extravagance would only lead to financial trouble.
- I cannot afford such extravagance on my small salary.
- His life of extravagance ended when he lost his job.
- The company was criticized for its extravagance on travel and hotels.
- After so much extravagance at Christmas, they decided to save money in January.
- The boss’s extravagance with office money made the workers angry.
A particular unnecessary luxury
An expensive thing that you do not really need but you buy or do to feel good.
[something] is [someone]’s one extravagance
- Fresh flowers on the table are her one extravagance.
- For him, a daily takeaway coffee is a small extravagance he refuses to give up.
- The sports car was an extravagance he bought to celebrate his promotion.
- A cleaner once a week is their only extravagance in an otherwise simple life.
- He allows himself the occasional extravagance of a weekend at a luxury hotel.
- Chocolate is my one extravagance.
- Their big house by the sea is an extravagance.
- A new phone every year is an extravagance for most people.
- Eating in a very expensive restaurant was a special extravagance for us.
- Her designer shoes are a harmless extravagance.
Extreme or excessive style or claims
A way of speaking, feeling, or doing something that is much stronger or bigger than normal and may not seem sensible.
the extravagance of [something]
- Some critics felt that the film’s visual extravagance distracted from the story.
- The sheer extravagance of his promises made them hard to believe.
- Her writing is marked by a certain verbal extravagance that not everyone enjoys.
- He regretted the extravagance of his outburst once he had calmed down.
- The novel’s emotional extravagance will appeal to some readers but annoy others.
- The teacher did not like the extravagance of his language in the essay.
- Some people enjoy the extravagance of the singer’s clothes and shows.
- The manager was surprised by the extravagance of the offer.
- I think there is some extravagance in his reaction to a small problem.
- The book is full of emotional extravagance.
- Base: extravagance
- Plural: extravagance, extravagances
a bit of an extravagance
1Something somewhat too expensive
Used to say that something costs more than is sensible, but often with a soft or apologetic tone.
- The watch was a bit of an extravagance, but he wears it every day.
- Booking a suite was a bit of an extravagance, yet they decided it was worth it.
- She admitted that the designer handbag was a bit of an extravagance.
a touch of extravagance
1A small amount of luxury
Used when something has a little bit of extra luxury or cost that is not really needed but makes it feel special.
- The gold trim adds a touch of extravagance to an otherwise simple dress.
- We chose one expensive bottle of wine to give the meal a touch of extravagance.
- Fresh flowers in the bathroom are a touch of extravagance that guests always notice.
cannot afford such extravagance
1Not able to justify very high cost
Used to say that something is too expensive for a person or group and that it would not be sensible for them to spend money on it.
- With a baby on the way, they decided they could not afford such extravagance.
- In the current economic climate, the city cannot afford such extravagance on public events.
- Small businesses simply cannot afford such extravagance when budgets are tight.
one extravagance
1Exactly one luxury you allow yourself
Used when you talk about one special, expensive thing or habit that you do not really need but allow yourself to enjoy.
- One extravagance I allow myself is a massage every month.
- His one extravagance is the collection of rare guitars in his living room.
- One extravagance they refuse to give up is their yearly trip abroad.
sheer extravagance
1Completely unnecessary high spending
Used to strongly criticize something as being only very high, unnecessary spending with no good reason.
- To build a private pool for every apartment would be sheer extravagance.
- Many voters saw the new palace as sheer extravagance in a poor country.
- Buying a new car every year is sheer extravagance in my opinion.