at any expense
- idiom
:
a cualquier costo
- The company decided to win the contract at any expense, even if it meant sacrificing quality.
You know, there's there's a certain dedication to to curiosity at any expense.
- You know, there's there's a certain dedication to to curiosity at any expense.
Examples
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Labor is not to blame for the majority of these corporate failures; the aggressive need to make profits at any expense (including the wages, benefits, and working conditions of their employees that are actually the lifeblood that makes and distributes their products) is to blame.
Blog text (13) -
He promised to support his friend at any expense, showing his loyalty despite the risks involved.
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They will hunt her down at any expense.
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She wanted to impress everyone at any expense, willing to take on debt for a lavish party.
Synonyms
94
3.2
A phrase that says something will happen despite problems
62
3.7
To do whatever is necessary, even if it is risky
23
4.1
Willing to do anything to get something, even if it is dangerous or expensive
5
8.3
No matter what happens or how difficult it is
5
7.0
To do whatever is needed to reach a goal, even if the actions are difficult or harmful
How Important
11
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'no matter what the cost' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents: 'expense' (cost/sacrifice) modified by 'any' (indiscriminately) with the preposition 'at' indicating condition, so a learner who knows the parts can infer the phrase. This is a common, cross-linguistic logical construction (cf. 'at any cost'), making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
At any expense comes from the simple image of paying whatever is needed, with expense meaning a cost or something you must give up. So the phrase means 'no matter what the cost'.