Cost of a Good Phrase
Free you say?
So the easiest answer to the question "How much does a good phrase cost?" is FREE! You don't have to pay anyone to use it, and typically there is no charge to learn a new phrase. Once you have the phrase in your vocabulary, it is yours to keep. No one can take it from you, tax you for it, or put you in jail for using it.
Of course, there is always the chance that you had to buy the book or the movie that the phrase was in. That may add to your initial cost, but there is still no charge to use the phrase! Unless, of course, you are trying to make money yourself on the phrase, such as by making it the title of a book or a song. In that case, there may be some copyright or trademark issues that arise.
If you're just looking for phrases for everyday use, the Internet is a great place to start your search. Listening or reading great speeches is another place. If you have any phrases that you are particularly fond of, feel free to share them here in the comments section!
The worst phrase ever?
The most overused phrase of the past few years, in my opinion, is "thrown under the bus", or any of it's variants ("threw me under the bus", "tossed under the bus", etc.). It was first used most prominently in recent times referring to President Obama calling his grandmother a racist, and since then it doesn't seem like a week goes by without someone on TV repeating the phrase in a new context. It's crazy! It's time for a new phrase!!! They're free - remember?
