O que significa "at the expense of someone or something"? [e outras expressões com a palavra EXPENSE]

People like to joke around, don't they? But sometimes you laugh at someone and the person doesn't like it. He feels like it was uncalled for, he feels offended. That happens all the time, right? Maybe because people like to be funny no matter what the consequences are. In Portuguese, we say something like: Eu perco o amigo, mas não perco a piada. In English, there's no such expression, but you can say: I can't help telling this joke, even though I might lose a friend. It's not the same thing, but it conveys the same message. In situations like that, you're having a good laugh at the expense of someone. What does that mean? When you do anything (like laughing) at the expense of others, you're doing it to the detriment or harm of them. Very often, you do things like that just for the sake of your own enjoyment, but to the detriment of other people. You're not worried about what other people think or feel as long as you're having a good time.

There's another expression with the word expense that has a lot to do with that one. For example, you're using your parents' money to throw a party for you and your friends. You really wanna throw the best party of your life, and no expense is spared in making the guests feel comfortable. But wait, no expense is spared? What does that mean? When no expense is speared in arranging something, it means you're spending a lot of money to make it wonderful [in this case, to make the party wonderful]. Maybe because it's not your money, but your parents'. You could also say: I don't care how much it costs. Let's treat ourselves well and hang the expense! When you hang the expense, you spend whatever is necessary. It gives the idea that you're literaly hanging the bill somewhere so you don't worry about how it will cost.

Take care!