shouldered the expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shouldered the expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone taking on the financial burden or cost of something. Example: "After the unexpected repairs, Sarah shouldered the expense to ensure the project continued without delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

That way, Citigroup earns fees or commissions, without shouldering the expense and risk of providing the insurance itself.

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

"I'd just been thinking, God, I'd love to keep it, but who's going to help me?" Gradually, through a fortuitous alliance of people -- Ms. Leandrou, Mr. Laudati, the Dobsons and, ultimately, Barry Levites, the building's landlord and the man who would have to shoulder the expense -- the restoration of the lobby at the Beaumont came together.

The New York Times

The one-time "background check fee" for visitors, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, has angered prisoner advocacy groups and family members of inmates, who in many cases already shoulder the expense of traveling long distances to the remote areas where many prisons are located.

The New York Times

It is understood that its closure could potentially land taxpayers with a bill for up to £600 million because within a contract signed in 2009, the Ministry of Defence guaranteed BAE work for the next 15 years and is bound to shoulder the expense of any yard closures.

Independent

His refusal to shoulder the expense of a main stadium that was increasingly over budget was a major reason that its design, by the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, who died in March, was scrapped in favor of a cheaper plan last year.

The New York Times

In this current economy, the city shouldn't have to shoulder the expense of policing these special agreement businesses!

Los Angeles Times

The British government was enticed by the lower cost of acquiring Harriers promised by a large production run, and the fact that the US was shouldering the expense of development.

Wikipedia

They viewed themselves as virtually independent already; they lacked only the foreign affairs portfolio and taking this on would mean having to shoulder the expense for high commissions and embassies overseas.

Wikipedia

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shouldered the expense", ensure the context clearly indicates who is taking on the financial burden and what the expense is. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "shouldered the expense" when the burden is shared or distributed among multiple parties. This phrase is best suited for situations where one entity primarily bears the financial responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shouldered the expense" functions as a verb phrase where "shouldered" acts as the main verb (past tense), indicating the action of bearing or taking on, and "the expense" serves as the direct object, specifying what is being borne. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly accepted and used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

21%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shouldered the expense" is a grammatically sound and accepted way to describe bearing a financial burden. As Ludwig AI states, it's correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears across various contexts, especially in News & Media. Alternative phrases like "bore the cost" or "took on the financial burden" can be used for variety. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure it's evident who is bearing the expense and what the expense entails for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took on the financial burden

Emphasizes the burden aspect of the expense.

bore the cost

Implies bearing the financial burden, similar to 'shouldered the expense' but with a slightly more formal tone.

covered the expenses

Highlights the act of paying or providing for the costs.

absorbed the cost

Indicates the expense was taken in without passing it on.

assumed the financial responsibility

Focuses on the responsibility aspect of taking on the cost.

financed the expenditure

A more formal way of expressing the funding of an expense.

took responsibility for the payments

Highlights the accountability for ensuring payments are made.

defrayed the costs

Suggests providing money to cover the costs, often partially.

met the financial obligations

Focuses on fulfilling the duty to pay the expenses.

handled the payment

A more general term for managing the financial transaction.

FAQs

What does "shouldered the expense" mean?

The phrase "shouldered the expense" means to take on the responsibility of paying for something, often implying it was a significant financial burden.

What can I say instead of "shouldered the expense"?

You can use alternatives like "bore the cost", "took on the financial burden", or "covered the expenses" depending on the context.

Is "shouldered the expense" formal or informal?

"Shouldered the expense" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both news and business contexts. More formal options exist, such as "assumed the financial responsibility".

How to use "shouldered the expense" in a sentence?

Example: "After the company's financial difficulties, the CEO "shouldered the expense" of restructuring to save jobs".