steep

a little (bit) steep

A bit more expensive than desired or expected. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and an order of popcorn? That's a little steep, don't you think? They said the repairs would come to about $500, which seemed a little bit steep, if you ask me. The hotel is a little bit steep, but it looks fabulous and it's right in the heart of the city.

See also: little, steep

be a bit steep

1. To be more expensive than was expected or is reasonable. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and popcorn? That's a bit steep, don't you think? We have to pay $20 just to get in? That's a bit steep—they should be paying us to come to their lame club! I know $6 a cookie is a bit steep, but it's for a good cause.

2. To be unfair, untrue, or unreasonable. I just think it's a bit steep for her to call me lazy, when she knows I've got a medical condition keeping me from working. I am sorry I'm late—but you're late all the time! It's a bit steep for you to be this angry with me. Come on, don't you think that's a bit steep? You know I didn't break the picture frame on purpose.

See also: bit, steep

be rather steep

1. To be more expensive than was expected or is reasonable. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and popcorn? That's rather steep, don't you think? We have to pay $20 just to get in? That's rather steep—they should be paying us to come to their lame club! I know $6 a cookie is rather steep, but it's for a good cause.

2. To be unfair, untrue, or unreasonable. I just think it's rather steep for her to call me lazy, when she knows I've got a medical condition keeping me from working! I am sorry I'm late—but you're late all the time! It's rather steep for you to be this angry with me. Come on, don't you think that's rather steep? You know I didn't break the picture frame on purpose.

See also: rather, steep

be steeped in (something)

To possess or display a certain characteristic or quality to a great degree. Every activity at this school is steeped in tradition. His poetry is steeped in the folklores of his home country. My sister and I were steeped in a wide range of cultural and educational influences from a very young age.

See also: steep

it's/that's a bit steep

1. That's a bit more expensive than expected. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and popcorn? That's a bit steep, don't you think?

2. That's rather unfair, untrue, or unreasonable. I just think it's a bit steep for her to call me lazy, when she knows I've got a medical condition keeping me from working!

See also: bit, steep

learning curve

The rate at which something can be learned or mastered. The learning curve required to make use of this software will make it prohibitive for most inexperienced users. The video game has a steep learning curve at the beginning, though that may be part of its appeal for many hardcore gamers.

See also: curve, learning

steep in

1. Literally, to soak something in some substance in order to imbue something into or draw something out of it. A noun or pronoun is used between "steep" and "in"; often used in passive constructions. You can steep tea leaves in cold water and still extract the same flavor, but it works much quicker with hot water. The cloth is steeped in a special mixture of chemicals that give is a softness similar to silk.

2. To expose someone or something to or immerse them or it in a particular experience or situation in order to be saturated or imbued with some property. A noun or pronoun is used between "steep" and "in"; often used in passive constructions. My parents made an especial effort to steep my sibling and me in a wide range of cultural and educational influences from a very young age. As the leading university of our country for over 300 years, this school is steeped in history and tradition.

See also: steep

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

little steep

 and little pricey

Fig. relatively expensive; costing more than one wants to pay. The food here is a little pricey, but you get a lot of it.

See also: little, steep

steep someone in something

Fig. to immerse someone in some kind of knowledge or other experience; to saturate someone with some kind of experience or training. (Fig. on steep something in something.) Her parents steeped her in good literature and music. she steeped herself in the legends of her people.

See also: steep

steep something in something

to soak something in a liquid. I steeped the shirt in red dye. You have to steep these herbs in steamy hot water for five minutes.

See also: steep

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

be a bit/rather ˈsteep

(informal) (of a price or a request) be too much; be unreasonable: €6? That seems a bit steep for a small piece of cheese. ♢ It’s a bit steep to expect us to work longer hours for no extra money.

See also: bit, rather, steep

be ˈsteeped in something

(written) have a lot of a particular quality: This is a city steeped in history.

See also: something, steep

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

steep in

v.

To expose someone or something to something else in order to imbue some quality: The teacher steeped the students in classic literature. The university is steeped in tradition.

See also: steep

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

steep

mod. [of a price] high; expensive. Their prices are pretty steep, but their goods are of high quality.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.