cost overrun
- noun
- Specialized
- But NASA's budget problems are mostly due to their cost overruns, both in time and money.
- a huge cost overrun
- a large cost overrun
Examples
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That includes the cost overruns.
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If you sign this it means you won't be liable for damages and cost overruns, and I'll get the school built on time.
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Also, much of the new technology is still under development and is thus sure to experience cost overruns.
Academic text (2004) -
Then it's a fact that many wind power projects have great delays and cost overruns.
Blog text (32) -
There was a fairly good chance of schedule delays and cost overruns.
Blog text (12) -
The Curiosity mission itself, because of $900 million in cost overruns, now has a price of $2.5 billion.
Blog text (25) -
Toronto's SkyDome had huge cost overruns.
Academic text (1998) -
Inadequate planning and the absence of proper risk calculations frequently resulted in massive cost overruns and lengthy delays for industrial projects.
Academic text (1998) -
Barnes told legislators they are preparing a budget-cutting plan to respond to the unexpected cost overruns.
Blog text (9) -
The construction project experienced a significant cost overrun, which pushed the final expenses to twice the original budget.
Synonyms
An extra amount made beyond what is needed
An amount of money or goods that is more than expected
Antonyms
How Overbudget
- Slang
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'cost' (monetary amount) combined with 'overrun' (an amount exceeding what was planned) yields 'the amount by which costs exceed the budget.' This compound follows a common English and cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Cost overrun comes from the simple picture of costs 'running over' a limit: imagine a budget line and the costs like water that overrun and spill past it. So it means 'the amount by which actual costs go past the planned budget'.