cost

1.at the cost of（以…为代价）后面接的词通常表示损失或花费的东西。例如：life，health，time和money。但有时也接表示被遭受的东西的词。例如：discomfort，hardship，misery和suffering。at the cost of losing his life和at the cost of his life意思相同。at the cost of leaving your meaning vague和at the cost of the clearness of your meaning也意思相同。

2.at all costs（不惜任何代价、无论如何）比at any cost普通。

3.cost原来是不及物动词，This cost me much money里的me是间接宾语，money是状语宾语。不过这种结构很特别，为便利起见，不妨把cost看作及物动词，me看作间接宾语，money看作直接宾语。但注意This cost me much money决不可改作This cost much money to（或for）me，也不可改作I was cost much money（by this）或Much money was cost me (by this)。

4.cost的状语宾语（或直接宾语）通常是表示损失或花费掉的东西的词。例如：life，health，time和money。但有时也接表示被遭受的东西的词。例如：discomfort，hardship，misery和suffering。The accident cost him his life和The accident cost him the loss of his life意思相同。