at somebody's expense

at (one's) expense

1. Falling under one's financial responsibility. Once I learned that the trip was at my expense, I decided not to go.
2. To one's detriment or disadvantage. I was furious when I heard the other kids telling jokes at my little brother's expense.
See also: expense
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at somebody’s exˈpense


1 paid for by somebody: When Joe is travelling at the firm’s expense, he goes first class.
2 (of jokes, etc.) making somebody seem foolish: They all had a good laugh at Pete’s expense.
See also: expense
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • at (one's) expense
  • at expense
  • at someone's expense
  • at doorstep
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • be in (one's) good graces
  • be in somebody's good graces
  • be in someone's good graces
  • (one's) day in court
  • be remembered as/for something
References in classic literature
a gentleman must be amused at somebody's expense!--I conceived the happy idea of disappearing.
Little Dorrit
It establishes a bond between the wit and the listener at somebody's expense. Comedy restores our wholeness.
What's so funny?
I mean, he was capable of being very witty but almost always at somebody's expense. People were frightened of having their work criticized by him, and so on.
Stoppard reinvents love