区别辨析 at the cost of, at the expense of, at the price of, at the sacrifice of

(1) at the cost of表示“以……为代价；用……换来的”。

• He achieved what he set out to do, but at the cost of his life.
  他实现了自己既定的目标，但却献出了生命。
• The poor fox escaped from the ice hole at the cost of its tail.
  这只可怜的狐狸从冰窟逃脱了，却丢掉了尾巴。

(2) at the expense of 表示：

①价值……；花费……，等于at the cost of。

• The house was built at the expense/cost of $500,000.
  建这幢房子花了500000美元。

②负担……的费用；花(某人的) 钱。

• My aunt was at the expense of my education.
  姑妈负担我的学费。
• He took a trip at the expense of his unit.
  他进行了一次公费旅行。

③损……而利……；以牺牲……为代价；在损害……的情况下；不顾……。

• One should not promote one's own welfare at the expense of others.
  一个人不应以牺牲他人为代价谋取个人利益。
• He became a famous scholar but only at the expense of his health.
  他成了一位著名的学者，但却是以健康为代价的。
• They have built their economies at the expense of the other peoples of the world.
  他们以损害世界上其他民族的利益为代价来发展他们的经济。
• They rushed through the work at the expense of quality.
  他们不顾质量匆匆完成了工作。

(3) at the price of意为“以……为代价”。

• They won the battle, but at the price of many lives.
  他们打赢了这一仗，但却以许多生命为代价。

(4) at the sacrifice of意为“牺牲……”。

• At the sacrifice of his own comfort, he allowed the guest to use his bed.
  他牺牲了自己的舒适，让客人睡他的床。
• It is not worthwhile to complete the work at the sacrifice of your health.
  以你的健康为代价去完成这项工作是不值得的。