в цене

• В ЦЕНЕ{{}}

[PrepP; Invar; subj-compl with быть]

=====

1. [subj: concr (count pl or mass)]

⇒ (some category of items) is highly valued and therefore has a high market price:

- X-ы в цене{{}}≈ Xs are (very <quite, rather>) costly;

- Xs are highly priced <high-priced>;

- the price of Xs is high;

- Xs are worth (quite) a bit;

- Xs are worth a pretty penny;

- Xs bring <fetch> a good price;

- Xs are in demand;

|| Neg X-ы не в цене{{}}≈ Xs don't fetch <bring> much.

     ♦ "Хлеб был хорош и в цене, и в марте или апреле вы получите деньги..." (Гончаров 1). "The harvest was good, the price high, and you can get the money in March or April..." (1b).

     ♦ Батько ещё в начале весны повёз в Крым на продажу табак... Табак был тогда в цене (Гоголь 5). Just at the beginning of spring Father went with the wagons to the Crimea to sell tobacco; ...tobacco brought a good price in those days (5a).

     ♦ Нашатырь... был в цене. Он заменял дрожжи (Паустовский 1). Ammonia was in demand. It was a substitute for yeast (1a).

     ♦ [Анчугин:] Часы теперь не в цене (Вампилов 1). [A.:] Watches don't fetch much these days (1a).

2. [subj: human (usu. pl) or abstr]

⇒ (people of some category, items of some type etc) are considered to be of great value (among some group, in some place etc):

- Х-ы в цене{{}}≈ Xs are highly valued.

     ♦ Опытный и честный работник всегда в цене. An experienced and honest worker is always highly valued