expense

ex|pense

W2S3 [ıkˈspens] n

1.) [U and C]

the amount of money that you spend on something

legal/medical/living/travel etc expenses

(=the money that you spend for a particular purpose)

▪ He borrowed £150,000 and used the money for legal expenses.

at great/considerable/vast expense

▪ Conference rooms were equipped at great expense.

▪ The council must now decide whether to go to the expense of appealing through the courts.

▪ Julie's parents had spared no expense for her wedding (=they spent all the money necessary to buy the best things) .

▪ Everything has been provided tonight - no expense spared .

2.) expenses

money that you spend on things such as travel and food while you are doing your job, and which your employer then pays to you

on expenses

▪ Can you claim this meal on expenses?

3.) at the expense of sb/sth

if something is done at the expense of someone or something else, it is only achieved by doing something that could harm the other person or thing

▪ the growth in short breaks, at the expense of longer package holidays

4.) at sb's expense

a) if you do something at someone's expense, they pay for you to do it

▪ Her mansion was refurnished at taxpayers' expense.

b) if you make jokes at someone's expense, you laugh about them and make them seem stupid or silly

▪ Louis kept making jokes at his wife's expense.

5.) all expenses paid

having all of your costs for hotels, travel, meals etc paid for by someone else

▪ The prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to Rio.