shoulder expenses

USAGE SUMMARY

"shoulder expenses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to either the responsibility of somebody to pay expenses or the actual expenses paid. Example: The company had to shoulder expenses from the salary cut.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Another factor is Americans falling out of the middle class — those who make too much to receive poverty-related benefits but shoulder expenses that eat into income.

The New York Times

Rok Mobile, the wireless operator that DeJoria cofounded in 2014, is set to unveil a new plan aimed at helping low-income customers shoulder expenses they might otherwise forgo.

Forbes

Uber and Lyft have brought considerable benefits to ride-seekers and probably to the company's founders, but at the expense of their drivers, who now have to shoulder expenses that in the past often were borne by taxi fleet owners.

Los Angeles Times

Cases signed out as DAMA-Financial are those cases where parents express the desire to be DAMA because of inability to shoulder expenses for medical treatment, inability to provide in-hospital care to their child because of lost days at work, or situations where the parents give other reasons such as bringing the child to a traditional healer since it is a cheaper form of treatment.

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

WorldCom would shoulder immediate expenses connected to Intermedia bonds, which are rated or below investment grade.

The New York Times

And just as they were beginning to shoulder those expenses, consumers were becoming empowered by access to medical information through technologies such as Google and WebMD.

Harvard Business Review

The Red Cross' deal with Donated Property Systems calls for the company to shoulder all expenses in the operation, including advertising, telephone operators and car repairs.

Los Angeles Times

Staff members were of the opinion that the institution would have to shoulder the expenses in the event that the employee dies before accumulating adequate benefits to offset the loans.

BMC Health Services Research

For a young child, you can shoulder the expenses of a kid-friendly cell phone, not only the upfront cost but also the other costs associated with usage of the device.

WikiHow

Imax will shoulder the expense of the projectors, which cost about $500,000 each.

The New York Times

He said that technology companies did not want to shoulder the expense of being a publisher but were losing that argument and had to face a choice between compliance and complicity.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial responsibilities, using "shoulder expenses" can add a layer of responsibility and burden-bearing to the act of paying costs.

Common error

Avoid using "shoulder expenses" when the context implies merely paying for something without an associated burden or responsibility. Use more neutral terms like "pay expenses" or "cover costs" in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shoulder expenses" functions as a verb phrase where "shoulder" acts as a transitive verb taking "expenses" as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shoulder expenses" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that signifies bearing the responsibility and burden of covering certain costs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys the idea of taking on financial obligations. While not extremely common, its usage is consistent across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. Alternative phrases like "bear the costs" or "cover the expenses" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When using "shoulder expenses", ensure the context implies a sense of burden or responsibility associated with the payment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bear the costs

Focuses on the act of carrying or enduring financial burdens.

cover the expenses

Implies taking responsibility for paying the costs.

meet the expenses

Highlights the ability to satisfy the financial requirements.

handle the expenses

Suggests managing or dealing with the financial aspects.

take on the expenses

Emphasizes the assumption of financial responsibility.

absorb the costs

Highlights the act of assimilating or taking in the financial burden.

finance the expenses

Specifically refers to providing the funds needed.

underwrite the expenses

Suggests a formal guarantee of financial support.

defray the expenses

Implies contributing to or partially covering the costs.

pick up the tab

Informal way of saying to pay for the expenses.

FAQs

How can I use "shoulder expenses" in a sentence?

You can use "shoulder expenses" to indicate that someone is bearing the burden of financial obligations, as in, "The company had to shoulder expenses related to the lawsuit."

What's a more formal alternative to "shoulder expenses"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "bear the costs" or "underwrite the expenses", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "shoulder the expense" instead of "shoulder expenses"?

While grammatically acceptable, "shoulder the expense" is less common than "shoulder expenses". The plural form is typically used when referring to multiple or ongoing costs.

What is the difference between "shoulder expenses" and "cover expenses"?

"Shoulder expenses" implies bearing a burden or responsibility along with the payment, while "cover expenses" simply means to pay for them.