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.
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
"Yes, we do everything to support our national security, but it can't come at the expense of social security."
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
That frustrates some locals, who say affluent keyholders enjoy one of the island’s most valuable resources at the expense of the public.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
“You want to make everyone happy. Even if it’s sometimes at the expense of your own happiness.”
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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.
