expense (redirected from expenses)

at the expense of someone or something

Fig. to the detriment of someone or something; to the harm of someone or something. He had a good laugh at the expense of his brother. He took a job in a better place at the expense of a larger income.

go to the expense (of doing something)

to pay the (large) cost of doing something. I hate to have to go to the expense of painting the house. It needs to be done, so you'll have to go to the expense.

Money is no object, and Expense is no object.

Fig. It does not matter how much something costs. Please show me your finest automobile. Money is no object. I want the finest earrings you have. Don't worry about how much they cost because expense is no object.

See also: money, object

out-of-pocket expenses

Fig. the actual amount of money spent. (Alludes to the money one person pays while doing something on someone else's behalf. One is usually paid back this money.) My out-of-pocket expenses for the party were nearly $175. My employer usually reimburses all out-of-pocket expenses for a business trip.

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and hang the cost/expense

if you say that you will do or have something and hang the cost, you mean that you will spend whatever is necessary I thought for once in our lives let's treat ourselves really well and hang the cost.

See also: and, cost, hang

no expense is spared

if no expense is spared in arranging something, a lot of money is spent to make it extremely good No expense was spared in making the guests feel comfortable.

See and hang the cost

See also: spare

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at your expense

1. causing embarrassment They had a joke at her expense.

2. with you paying for something I can have the ROM on my computer expanded at my expense.

at the expense of something

with the loss of something Time is spent preparing students for state tests at the expense of other, important instruction.

money is no object

how much something costs is not important If money was no object, what sort of a house would you live in?

See also: money, object

spare no expense

to not consider the cost of something The team spared no expense in hiring players last year.

Related vocabulary: spare no effort to do something

See also: spare