At the Expense of – Meaning and Examples
Your coworker gets praised for a project—but you did most of the work. People say he succeeded **at the expense of** your effort. Or maybe a company cuts costs by paying workers less—it profits **at the expense of** its employees. The phrase at the expense of is used when one person or thing benefits, but someone else suffers or loses something. It’s common in news, discussions, and everyday English—and now you’ll know how to use it clearly and correctly.
What Does “At the Expense of” Mean?
“At the expense of” means gaining an advantage or achieving something by causing harm, loss, or unfair cost to someone or something else. Think of it like winning a race by tripping your opponent—it’s success, but it’s not fair. The “expense” isn’t always money; it can be time, health, trust, or effort.
When to Use It
Use “at the expense of” in serious or critical situations like:
- Work or school: “She got promoted at the expense of her team’s trust.”
- Environment: “Cheap fashion is made at the expense of the planet.”
- Relationships: “He builds his ego at the expense of others’ feelings.”
- Health or balance: “Don’t chase success at the expense of your well-being.”
It’s neutral to slightly formal—great for writing (essays, emails, articles) and thoughtful conversations. Avoid it in light or joking contexts unless you’re making a pointed comment.
Example Sentences
- Fast growth shouldn’t come at the expense of quality.
- He won the argument, but at the expense of his friendship.
- Many apps are free—but your privacy pays at the expense of convenience.
- You can’t build wealth at the expense of other people’s rights.
Mini Dialogue
Maria: “He got the award, but everyone knows Lena did the real work.”
Tom: “Yeah… he’s always advancing at the expense of others.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don’t use it for fair trade-offs: “I bought coffee at the expense of $5.” (Wrong! That’s just spending money.)
✅ Do use it when there’s a negative impact on someone/something: “Profit came at the expense of workers’ safety.”
Practice Tip
Practice Tip
Notice one unfair situation this week (in news, work, or life). Say: “This happened at the expense of ___.”
Final Note
“At the expense of” helps you speak thoughtfully about fairness, cost, and consequences in English. Now you can use it to add depth to your opinions, writing, and discussions. Keep using it with care—and your English will not only sound fluent, but fair-minded too. Great job—you’re making real progress!
