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

So while we’ve developed incredible vision and light receptor cells, this has happened at the expense of having a gap in our visual field.

From Science Daily • Jul. 11, 2026

"For decades, the city has been living beyond its means and is now making up its budget deficits at the expense of tourism," he told AFP.

From Barron's • Jul. 10, 2026

When a long-term employee leaves, the average wage paid to his 380 Tucson employees goes down, which helps profits, “but it comes at the expense of experience,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026

That the 14th Amendment’s universal promise need not come at the expense of Black history because it is Black history.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2026

Instead, his appearance was absurd—the empty tract of his chin was at the expense of a worried, overpopulated forehead.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan