at your expense

USAGE SUMMARY

"at your expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiom usually used to mean "at a cost to you" or "at your own financial cost". For example, "He bought the tickets to the show at his own expense".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mostly at your expense.

The Guardian - Opinion

He has grown rich at your expense.

The New Yorker

He never patronizes you or shows off at your expense.

The New Yorker

When the transport system is making fun at your expense..

The Guardian - Tech

Any benefits they enjoy are at your expense.

The Guardian - Opinion

The message to employers is a simple one: look closely at your expense regime.

The Economist

Translation: the firm's prop desk wants to close out a position at your expense.

The Economist

The fashion world is having fun, but make sure it's not at your expense.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I apologise for all the fun I've been having at your expense".

The Guardian

A boy has to be entertained, otherwise he will make his own entertainment, at your expense.

The Guardian - Travel

While Bush was waging his father's war at your expense, he was also ruining your country.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at your expense" when you want to clearly state that someone will bear the financial burden or cost of something.

Common error

Avoid using "at your expense" when referring to emotional or personal costs. It is primarily used in financial or transactional contexts. For emotional costs, consider other options like "at your emotional cost" or "to your detriment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at your expense" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate who bears the cost of an action or item. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

27%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at your expense" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that clearly indicates financial or other burdens. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. As demonstrated by Ludwig's diverse examples, the phrase appears most commonly in news and media, academic, and professional contexts. When writing, ensure that you're using "at your expense" to denote financial or transactional costs, not emotional ones. Alternatives like "at your cost" or "at your own risk" might be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at your cost

Replaces "expense" with "cost", a slightly more general term for something paid or lost.

at your charge

Uses "charge" to indicate a financial burden or responsibility.

at your liability

Focuses on legal or financial responsibility for something.

at your financial burden

Emphasizes the financial aspect of the expense, highlighting it as a burden.

borne by you

A more formal way of saying that you will bear the cost or responsibility.

your responsibility

Shifts the focus to the responsibility aspect, implying that you are accountable for the expense.

out of your own pocket

An informal way of saying you must pay for something personally.

on your tab

An informal term suggesting that the cost is added to your bill or account.

you will be responsible for

Directly states that you will be held accountable for the cost.

at your inconvenience

Focuses on the trouble or difficulty caused to you, rather than just the monetary cost.

FAQs

What does "at your expense" mean?

The phrase "at your expense" means that you are responsible for paying the cost of something or that something is done at a cost to you.

How can I use "at your expense" in a sentence?

You can use "at your expense" in sentences like: "All travel costs are "at your expense"" or "He was promoted, often "at your expense"".

What are some similar phrases to "at your expense"?

Similar phrases include "at your cost", "at your own risk", or "out of your own pocket", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "at your expenses" instead of "at your expense"?

No, the correct phrase is "at your expense". The word "expense" is typically used in the singular form in this context. The version "at your expenses" is not standard.