cost
noun uk/kɒst/ us/kɑːst/
(MONEY SPENT)
A2 [ U ]价格;费用;成本
the amount of money needed to buy, do, or make something
When you buy a new computer, you usually get software included at no extra cost (= for no additional money). 买电脑时通常免费附送软件。
In most families, two salaries are essential to cover the cost of (= pay for) raising a family. 对许多家庭来说，要支付孩子学费双职薪水必不可少。
The supermarket chain announced that it was cutting the cost (= reducing the price) of all its fresh and frozen meat. 这家连锁超市宣布其所有鲜肉和冷冻肉降价销售。
It's difficult for most people to deal with the rising cost of (= increasing price of) healthcare. 大多数人都难以承受医疗保健费用的上涨。
I was able to buy the damaged goods at cost (= for only the amount of money needed to produce or get the goods, without any extra money added for profit). 我能以成本价买到残损商品。
costs [ plural ] 成本;支出
the amount of money needed for a business or to do a particular job
We need to cut our advertising costs. 我们需要削减广告支出。
The estimated costs of the building project are well over £1 million. 这项建筑工程的成本预算大大超出100万英镑。
These days, drugs make up the fastest growing component of our healthcare costs.
Oil prices rose because of higher extraction costs.
By moving production abroad, we have cut 20% of our manufacturing costs.
- More examples
- Whether or not we go to Spain for our holiday depends on the cost.
- Do you agree with the principle that everyone should pay something towards the cost of healthcare?
- The average cost of a new house has gone up by 5 percent to £76 500.
- Their estimate of the cost of the project was wildly inaccurate.
- My main concern about moving to London is the cost of housing.
(SOMETHING LOST/GIVEN)
B2 [ S or U ]代价;牺牲;付出
something that is given, needed, or lost in order to get a particular thing
We were going to paint the house ourselves, but when we considered the cost in time and effort, we decided to get a painter to do it for us. 我们本打算自己漆房子，可是考虑到既费时又费力，还是决定请油漆工来做。
The driver managed not to hit the child who ran in front of his car, but only at the cost of injuring himself. 司机避开了在他车前乱跑的小孩，可自己却受了伤。
She has finally got the job she wanted, but at great personal cost (= she has had to give up other things that were important to her). 她最终得到了想要的那份工作，可是个人付出的代价很大。
UK It's not worth getting into an argument with Paula, as I learned to my cost (= from my unpleasant experience of having done so). 不值得和葆拉发生争执，因为我已有过教训。
- More examples
- I didn't read the contract fully before I signed it but I'm counting the cost now.
- Victory in the war was achieved at the cost of great human suffering.
- He tried to fight for justice, but in the end the personal cost was too high.
- She supported the refugees at great personal cost.
- I discovered to my cost that he was a violent man.
Idiom
at all cost(s)idiom (also at any cost)B2 不惜任何代价；无论如何
If something must be done or avoided at all costs, it must be done or avoided whatever happens.
Security during the president's visit must be maintained at all costs. 要不惜一切代价确保总统在访问期间的安全。
He wanted her at any cost, even if it meant giving up everything he had. 他不惜一切代价要得到她，即使这意味着放弃他自己所拥有的一切。
cost
verb [ T ] uk/kɒst/ us/kɑːst/
(MONEY)
A2 cost | cost价钱为;需花费
If something costs an amount of money, you must pay that amount to buy or do it.
"How much does this book cost?" "It costs £25." “这本书多少钱？”“25英镑。”
It costs a lot to buy a house in this part of Sydney. 在悉尼的这一地区买栋房子要花很多钱。
[ + two objects ] The trip will cost you $1,000. 这趟旅游要花去你1000美元。
costed | costed计算成本;计算花费
to calculate the future cost of something
My boss asked me to cost the materials for the new fence and gate. 老板让我计算出新围栏和大门的材料费用。
Has your plan been properly costed (out)? 你的方案好好计算过成本吗？
- More examples
- "How much will the trip cost?" "No more than £40."
- Smaller cars have better mileage and so cost less to run.
- The repairs to our car cost much more than we were expecting.
- These shoes only cost £20.
- The projected extension to the motorway near London is going to cost over £4 million.
(DESTROY)
B2 cost | cost使付出代价；使丧失；使牺牲
to cause someone to lose or destroy something valuable
Drinking and driving costs lives (= can cause accidents in which people die). 酒后驾车会付出生命的代价。
[ + two objects ] His affairs cost him his marriage (= his marriage ended because of them). 婚外情葬送了他的婚姻。
- More examples
- Alcoholism cost me my job, my health and finally my family.
- Many of the fans believe that the omission of Heacock from the team cost England the match.
- Ireland squandered several chances, including a penalty that cost them the game.
- They won the war, although it cost them millions of lives.
- Writing the book cost me my job and my marriage.
Idioms
cost someone dearidiom UK让…花很多钱;使…损失一大笔钱
to cause someone to spend a lot of money or lose money
Buying that second-hand car without having it checked by a mechanic first cost us dear. 没先请机修工检查就买了那辆二手汽车，这让我们亏了许多钱。
UK使…付出沉重代价；使…饱尝苦头
to cause someone a lot of problems
Later that year he attacked a photographer, an incident that cost him dear. 那年底他攻击了一位摄影师，这件事让他付出了巨大代价。
cost an arm and a leg/a small fortuneidiom (UK also cost a bomb/the earth/a packet) 极其昂贵;花一大笔钱
to be extremely expensive
I'd love to buy a Porsche, but they cost an arm and a leg. 我倒是想买辆保时捷，可实在太贵了。
it'll cost youidiom informal 要花很多钱;会很贵
it will be very expensive
It'll cost you to have your roof repaired. 修理屋顶要花很多钱。