at any expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at any expense" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something will be done regardless of the cost or consequences. Example: "She was determined to win the competition at any expense." Alternative expressions include "at any cost" and "regardless of the cost."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

At times it comes over as a desperation to sound hip, raw, transgressive, original at any expense.

The Guardian - Books

"Putin is ready to diversify gas supplies at any expense because he considers it geopolitically important," Milov said.

The Guardian

Gameness, Carl Semencic argues, in "The World of Fighting Dogs" (1984), is no more than a dog's "desire to please an owner at any expense to itself".

The New Yorker

"It was kind of cruel in a way," he said the other day, adding that he wanted the shot but certainly not at any expense.

The New York Times

His sister Kim was more up-front, he recalled with a grin: "Kim was in any play at any expense, both to her dignity and her pocket book".

The New York Times

They are the direct result of a society in which the elite have rigged our government and economy in a successful campaign to preserve their wealth and power at any expense.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Take a look at any expenses you have for services that you likely won't need when you retire and start to eliminate them now.

Huffington Post

The play is for the big pay-day at almost any expense".

Huffington Post

Huffington takes her profit, but not at any real expense to her hosts.

The New York Times - Magazine

Romain du Roi, (French: King's Roman), in printing, a roman typeface developed in France at the express order of King Louis XIV, who, in 1692, directed that a typeface be designed at any necessary expense for the exclusive use of the royal printer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Other contracts prohibit Chesapeake from withholding any expenses at all.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using this phrase in contexts involving ambition, geopolitical maneuvers, or obsessive behavior to add a layer of intensity to your writing.

Common error

While you might discuss "at any expenses" when referring to a specific list of financial line items, the idiomatic phrase meaning 'regardless of cost' remains singular. Using the plural in a figurative sense can disrupt the rhythmic flow expected by native readers.

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig, "at any expense" serves as a prepositional phrase that typically functions as an adverbial of manner or condition. It modifies a verb or a whole clause to indicate that the action described is being pursued with total disregard for the resulting price or sacrifice.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "at any expense" is a robust and grammatically correct phrase used to describe an uncompromising pursuit of a goal. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently found in high-quality news outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian, where it often carries a weight of ethical or strategic gravity. While it is nearly interchangeable with the more common "at any cost", it remains a sophisticated choice for writers looking to emphasize the specific 'expense' or toll of an action. Whether you are writing an academic paper or a business report, this phrase effectively communicates a sense of absolute priority and the acceptance of significant trade-offs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at any cost

the most common and nearly perfectly interchangeable idiomatic alternative

at all costs

a more emphatic and slightly more frequent idiomatic variant

regardless of the cost

a more literal and slightly more formal way to express the same sentiment

whatever the cost

shifts the focus to the conditional outcome of an action

at any price

substitutes the notion of sacrifice with a more transactional term

at the expense of everything

emphasizes the totality of the sacrifice involved

at the cost of anything

reverses the structure to emphasize the potential loss of any other value

without regard to cost

removes the figurative connotation, focusing strictly on financial or resource management

no matter the sacrifice

focuses specifically on the personal or emotional toll rather than general resources

price being no object

often used in commercial contexts to mean the budget is unlimited

FAQs

How do I use "at any expense" in a sentence?

You can use it as an adverbial phrase to describe how an action is performed. For example: "The company sought to increase its market share "at any expense", leading to several ethical violations."

What is the difference between "at any expense" and "at any cost"?

The phrases are largely synonymous, but "at any cost" is more common and idiomatic. "at any expense" can sometimes feel more formal or literal, occasionally referring more specifically to the loss of a particular resource or value.

Can I say "regardless of expense" instead?

Yes, "regardless of expense" is a valid alternative that sounds slightly more clinical or administrative.

Is "at any expense" considered formal?

It is generally neutral to formal. It frequently appears in high-quality journalism like "The New York Times" and academic writing, making it a safe choice for professional and academic contexts.