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

See Examples For:

to the tune of

Tokyo is indebted to the tune of 230% of GDP.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The couple spent their courtship sharing fun Covid-era activities, like stealing toilet paper, enjoying empty cinemas and stadiums, and taking selfies in front of dumpster fires, all to the tune of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

But the "current level of cover would be insufficient to meet their total costs exposure, possibly to the tune of many millions of pounds."

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

The trade data released Thursday showed that the primary destination for German exports remained the United States, to the tune of 14.1 billion euros, a rise of 23.1 percent month-on-month.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 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