Learning English | BBC World Service (2024)

Be worth a lot of money

Worth is also often followed by a noun phrase when we are discussing the monetary value of something or somebody and saying how much it or they are worth. With this construction the question forms how much and what are often used:

What / How much do you think this violin is worth? ~ It must be worth a fortune. It's a stradivarius.
He bought me earrings worth two thousand pounds. ~ Gosh, how much is he worth? ~ He's a dollar millionaire!

be worth a lot / a great deal /etc

With these expressions we are saying how good, useful or reliable something or someone is:

She's always there for me. Her companionship is worth a great deal to me. She's worth her weight in gold.
The government's promises and policies are not worth very much. The policies are not worth the paper they're printed on.

Note that to be worth your weight in gold and not worth the paper they are printed on are both idioms. Word order cannot be changed.

It was a worthwhile journey - he got to see everyone on his list.
The meeting was so worthwhile and all the arguments about profit margins have now been sorted out.

Sometimes, worthwhile simply means of value and can be used in a similar way to worth with preliminary it. Compare the following:

It may be worth comparing this year's profit margins with last year's
It may be worthwhile to compare this year's profit margins with last year's
It may be worth your while to compare this year's profit margins with last year's

worthless

Note that if something is worthless, it has no value or use:

The guarantee will be worthless if the company goes out of business.
With hyperinflation the local currency has become virtually worthless.

As a seasoned language expert, I've delved into various linguistic nuances, including idioms, expressions, and the intricate usage of words like "worth" in diverse contexts. My expertise extends to understanding the subtleties and applications of language, making me adept at unraveling the intricacies within the article you provided.

Let's dissect the concepts mentioned in the article:

Be worth a lot of money:
- In this context, "worth" is used to express the monetary value of something or someone. The examples with the violin and the millionaire showcase how the term is applied when assessing financial value.
Be worth a lot / a great deal, etc:
- These expressions go beyond monetary value and focus on the quality, usefulness, or reliability of something or someone. "Worth a great deal" emphasizes the importance or positive attributes, while the phrase "not worth the paper they're printed on" implies something lacks value or credibility.
Be worth somebody's while:
- This phrase emphasizes the idea that an action or investment is beneficial in terms of financial gain or advantage. The example about investing in shares when the stock market is low illustrates the concept of making an effort for a significant payoff.
Worthwhile:
- Similar to "be worth somebody's while," "worthwhile" denotes that something is deserving of the time, money, or effort invested. It suggests that the value obtained justifies the resources spent. The examples of a worthwhile journey and a worthwhile meeting highlight this concept.
Worthless:
- In contrast, "worthless" conveys the absence of value or utility. The examples with a guarantee becoming worthless if a company goes out of business and a local currency becoming virtually worthless due to hyperinflation illustrate situations where something loses its value completely.

By navigating through these concepts, the article provides a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted uses of the term "worth" in the English language, ranging from financial value to qualitative assessments and idiomatic expressions. If you have any specific questions or if there's more you'd like to explore, feel free to ask!