high-maintenance

American  

[hahy--meyn-tuh-nuhns] / ˈhaɪ ˈmeɪn tə nəns /

adjective

1. needing frequent or major maintenance or repair.

   Imported sports cars are high-maintenance.

2. Informal. (of a person) demanding a great deal of attention, money, or effort.

   His high-maintenance girlfriend refuses to get engaged without a big diamond ring.

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high-maintenance British  

adjective

1. (of a piece of equipment, motor vehicle, etc) requiring regular maintenance to keep it in working order

2. informal (of a person) requiring a high level of care and attention; demanding

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Etymology

Origin of high-maintenance

First recorded in 1915–20 high-maintenance for def. 1; 1980–85 high-maintenance for def. 2; high ( def. ) + maintenance ( def. )

Example Sentences

High maintenance costs and the drop in air travel after September 11, 2001 made flying the Concorde increasingly inefficient from a business perspective.

From Time • May 12, 2016

High maintenance though he may be, he’s all they have.

From Forbes • Oct. 22, 2014