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

The Framers called the Constitutional Convention in large part because the states had pursued their own foreign policies at the expense of the national interest.

From The Wall Street Journal

“They’re willing to remove somebody before justice is pursued against them, at the expense of victims.”

From Los Angeles Times

“On behalf of injured parties, we will pursue all avenues supported by the facts and the law against those who exploited their position and reaped substantial profits at the expense of Terraform Labs’ creditors.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The MPA’s action sends a clear message that the entertainment industry will not subsidize the AI industry’s growth at the expense of its own rights. The companies that will thrive in this new environment are those who see rights holders as partners, not obstacles.”

From Los Angeles Times

Competition among telecom firms built a robust 5G network, but at the expense of the firms’ margins.

From Barron's