unreasonable expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unreasonable expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a cost that is excessive or not justifiable in a given context. Example: "The company decided to cut back on travel to avoid any unreasonable expenses that could impact the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Even for companies that could afford a suit, the required time and expense could be an unreasonable expense.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The new commission is led by Justice Sondra Miller of the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court, who described its goals as "reducing and eliminating trauma to parties and to children, avoiding unreasonable expenses and reducing and eliminating delays".

The New York Times

"Sara ­Netanyahu, like in the Cinderella story, piled on her impossible tasks, tyran­nised her and screamed at her, caused her unreasonable expenses from her own pocket, insulted her femininity by … commands meant to suppress her femininity, and made her sign a document that she would not reveal things that occurred in the house, until her mental and physical collapse," it reportedly said.

The Guardian

Delphi, which is based in Troy, Mich., said it would not be able to file the report "without unreasonable effort or expense" until the internal review is done, but it did not say when that might be.

The New York Times

"The company could not eliminate the delay without unreasonable effort and expense," according to the release.

Los Angeles Times

Emails released by the standards committee showed how Mrs Miller tried to persuade Ms Hudson that her investigation into her expenses was "unreasonable" and suggested she may go over the watchdog's head to ask MPs to intervene.

BBC

The Nassau County Interim Finance Authority should focus its efforts on persuading the state to help alleviate unreasonable, wasteful mandates, exploding pension expenses for county workers, and double-digit increases in health care costs.

The New York Times

The officer also found that factory managers required employees to work 14-hour shifts seven days a week, deducted unreasonable sums from paychecks for miscellaneous expenses, and provided substandard housing, Customs officials said.

The New York Times

It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.

The New Yorker

But it's an argument that goes at least as back as far as 1776, when Adam Smith wrote in "The Wealth of Nations": "It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense".

The New York Times

"The folks that are needing, that are making use of this regulatory environment, it seems not unreasonable for them to pay the cost of the expense of that".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly document the justification (or lack thereof) for expenses when conducting audits or reviews to highlight potentially "unreasonable expense".

Common error

Avoid using "unreasonable expense" when you actually mean "unexpected expense". An "unreasonable expense" is one that is excessive or unjustified, while an "unexpected expense" is simply one that was not planned for.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unreasonable expense" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "unreasonable" modifies the noun "expense". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in English. The phrase describes a cost that is excessive or not justifiable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unreasonable expense" describes a cost considered excessive or unjustified. While grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its occurrence is relatively rare. The phrase is most frequently encountered in news and media, formal business, and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the expense is truly excessive or unwarranted, and avoid confusing it with similar terms like "unexpected expense". Alternatives such as "unjustified cost" or "excessive expenditure" can provide similar meaning with different levels of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unjustified cost

Replaces "expense" with "cost" and "unreasonable" with "unjustified", focusing on the lack of justification.

excessive expenditure

Uses a more formal term, "expenditure", and replaces "unreasonable" with "excessive", highlighting the surplus.

exorbitant charge

Focuses on the high amount being charged, using "exorbitant" to describe the cost.

inordinate outlay

Replaces "expense" with "outlay" implying an unusually large expenditure, using the adjective "inordinate".

unconscionable spending

Highlights the unethical nature of the spending, using the word "unconscionable".

unwarranted disbursement

Emphasizes that the disbursement is not justified or needed.

disproportionate cost

Indicates that the cost is not in proportion to the value or benefit received.

outrageous fee

Emphasizes that the fee is shocking or unacceptable.

needless expense

Highlights the fact that the expense was not necessary or required.

gratuitous spending

Emphasizes that the spending was uncalled for or excessive, without any real need.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "unreasonable expense"?

You can use alternatives such as "unjustified cost", "excessive expenditure", or "exorbitant charge" depending on the context.

How does an "unreasonable expense" differ from an "unexpected expense"?

An "unreasonable expense" is a cost that is excessive or not justifiable, whereas an "unexpected expense" is a cost that was not anticipated. For example, hiring an expensive consultant when a junior employee could complete the same task is an "unreasonable expense", while a sudden car repair is an "unexpected expense".

In what situations might the term "unreasonable expense" be used?

The term "unreasonable expense" is often used in contexts such as financial audits, legal disputes, or budget reviews to describe costs that are deemed excessive or not appropriately justified. For example, claiming personal travel as a business expense could be considered an "unreasonable expense".

What factors determine whether an expense is considered "unreasonable"?

Whether an expense is deemed "unreasonable" depends on several factors, including industry standards, the necessity of the expense, and the value received in return. An expense may also be considered "unreasonable" if cheaper alternatives were available but not considered.