at the expense of

Idioms  

1. Also, at one's expense.

2. Paid for by someone, as in The hotel bill for the sales force is at the expense of the company . [Mid-1600s]

3. To the detriment or injury of a person or thing, as in We can't speed up production at the expense of quality , or The laughter was all at Tom's expense . [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at the expense of

His lack of initiative in romance and curating expansive experiences to bring you closer is further evidence of this, and it’s all at the expense of the relationship and your fulfillment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

The dishwasher camera does raise the question of how this will all change consumer behavior—specifically, our tolerance to the uncomfortable, and our willingness to retain agency, perhaps at the expense of being left behind.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

"We need clear EU rules to protect and strong enforcement to make sure new technologies don't come at the expense of our fundamental rights," she said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

“When everyone is racing to build as quickly as possible,” says McManus, “we really still have to consider what comes at the expense of that speed.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Can I then say that the America I saw has put cleanliness first, at the expense of taste?

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck