to the tune of

Idioms  

1. To the sum or extent of, as in They had profits to the tune of about $20 million. This idiom transfers tune, a succession of musical tones, to a succession of figures. [First half of 1700s]

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Example Sentences

For large parts of the afternoon, the home fans chanted "In your head, Arne, Arne, Arne" to the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries as Pereira's side dominated the defending champions.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Sally has composed a day song for him set to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Brockman, OpenAI's longtime president, and his wife Anna are also among the largest recent donors to President Donald Trump's political coffers, to the tune of $25 million last year.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

From 2015 to 2025, they spent $54 million to maintain it; at the beginning of last year, they signed three-year extension to the tune of $22 million.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

Daddy was right behind Mama, carrying Merry, who was singing, to the tune of “Jingle Bells”: “Handkerchief, sniff-sniff-sniff. Blow-blow-blow away!”

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

Related Words

• bring in
• come to
• require
• sell for
• take
• yield