Highlighting negative trade-offs by showing that a benefit is achieved only at the cost of something else.

To express criticism or warning that a desired outcome comes at an unacceptable cost to another valued aspect.

Policy debates, ethical critiques, business evaluations, academic analyses where trade-offs are weighed.

Academic writing, professional reports, journalistic commentary, formal discussions involving cost-benefit analysis.

at the expense of

at the expense of

noun phrase (e.g., time, quality, environment, staff, customers)

• happiness
• quality
• environment
• progress
• time
• money
• staff
• customers

• at the cost of
• to the detriment of

Misplacing the preposition: using it as a standalone adverb (e.g., "We are expensive workers’ wellbeing.") or omitting ‘of’ after ‘expense’.

to the detriment of, sacrificing, paying for with loss

Learners may interpret 'expense' literally as financial cost only, missing the broader sense of sacrifice or harm.

• at the cost of
• to the detriment of
• in return for losing

Implies criticism or regret; not a neutral description of trade-offs — suggests the cost was too high or unjustified.

Signals disapproval or caution, framing the outcome as morally or strategically questionable due to its hidden costs.

cost of gain

This chunk is used to express a negative trade-off or sacrifice in formal and analytical contexts.

costing → harming → at the direct expense of