at the expense of
Idioms-
Also, at one's expense.
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Paid for by someone, as in The hotel bill for the sales force is at the expense of the company . [Mid-1600s]
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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]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He built a reputation over the past 20 years as a hawk who generally favored higher interest rates to cool inflation, even at the expense of the labor market.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
For Gen, those sacrifices come at the expense of joy.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
The documentary argues that Nadal was addicted to competition, often at the expense of his own health.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Global consumers benefited from cheaper goods, but at the expense of hollowing out local industries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Nobody supports me at the expense of his own adventure.
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
