They advanced a few hundred metres, but at a heavy cost in life
dreadful, terrible
the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering
real
environmental, financial, human, personal, political, social
the environmental cost of nuclear power
VERB + COST
outweigh
Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
count
The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection
PREP
at (a) ~ (to)
The raid was foiled, but at a cost: an injured officer who was lucky to escape with his life. He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health
at the ~ of
She saved him from the fire but at the cost of her own life
~ in
I felt a need to please people, whatever the cost in time and energy
PHRASES
at all costs/at any cost
You must stop the press finding out at all costs (= whatever it takes to achieve this)
to your cost
He's a ruthless businessman, as I know to my cost (= I know from my own bad experience)