Expense Money Make Spend Extra ɪkˈspens Examples Spent

• the garden was transformed at great expense.
• no expense was spared (= they spent as much money as was needed) to make the party a success.
• he's arranged everything, no expense spared.
• she always travels first-class regardless of expense.

expense

1. the money that you spend on something
• The garden was transformed at great expense.
• No expense was spared (= they spent as much money as was needed) to make the party a success.
• He's arranged everything, no expense spared.
• She always travels first-class regardless of expense.
• The results are well worth the expense.

Extra Examples

• We were taken out for a meal at the company's expense.
• It emerged that they had received free first-class travel at the taxpayer's expense.
• The bridge was built at public expense.
• They had to repair the damage at their own expense.
• Your monthly housing expense should not be greater than 28% of your income.
• The accommodation package includes admission to the golf course at no extra expense.
• She had to meet the expense herself.
• Net interest expense increased to $5.9 million from $4.1 million.
2. something that makes you spend money
• Running a car is a big expense.
• The company views its workers as an expense instead of an asset.

Extra Examples

• Insurance is an ongoing expense.
• The real expense of the trip was the flights.
• Save the expense of calling out a plumber by learning some of the basics yourself.
• Meetings, and the time for them, are a considerable management expense.
• The process turned out to be a significant capital expense.
3. money spent in doing a particular job, or for a particular purpose
• living/medical/travel expenses
• legal/household expenses
• The company has cut operating expenses to their lowest levels in three years
• Can I give you something towards expenses?
• financial help to meet the expenses of an emergency
• The payments he gets barely cover his expenses.
• Property investors are entitled to offset the expenses incurred buying the property.

Extra Examples

• My expenses are constantly rising and my income stays the same.
• Medical expenses can be quite high if you are not insured.
• You can reduce your expenses by selling your old car at a good price.
• You can expect to receive compensation for all expenses arising out of the accident.
• We will recoup our expenses within 24 months.
• You will receive expense reimbursement for up to $5 000 for legal representation.
• Total employee expenses were up about 6%.
• Operating expenses rose by more than 23% last year.
• Look for a fund with low expenses.
4. money that you spend while you are working and that your employer will pay back to you later
• You can claim back your travelling/travel expenses.
• We paid their expenses, but nothing more.
• an all-expenses-paid trip
• to take a client out for a meal on expenses

Extra Examples

• Relocated employees received grants towards incidental expenses like buying carpets.
• The guides are unpaid except for basic expenses.
• They are claiming expenses for travel and meals.
5. paid for by somebody
• We were taken out for a meal at the company's expense.
6. if you make a joke at somebody’s expense, you laugh at them and make them feel silly
7. with loss or damage to somebody/something
• He built up the business at the expense of his health.
• an education system that benefits bright children at the expense of those who are slower to learn
8. to spend money on something
• They went to all the expense of redecorating the house and then they moved.
9. to make somebody spend money on something
• Their visit put us to a lot of expense.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, alteration of Old French espense, from late Latin expensa (pecunia) ‘(money) spent’, from Latin expendere ‘pay out’, from ex- ‘out’ + pendere ‘weigh, pay’.