Idiom 369, English: “at all costs” meaning, origin, usage, sample sentences, synonyms, translations into Spanish and Portuguese
Michael D. Powers, Ph.D., USCCI
![Michael D. Powers, Ph.D., USCCI]()
Michael D. Powers, Ph.D., USCCI
US Certified Court Interpreter 1980 / Ph.D. Spanish Portuguese 1981 / 24 years university professor / Estimates: 12,000+ depositions, hearings, etc. / 850 trials / 3000 documents / Conference Interpreter 650 conferences
Idiom 369, English: “at all costs” meaning, origin, usage, sample sentences, synonyms, translations into Spanish and Portuguese
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Another interesting idiom in English is “at all costs” or “at any cost.” ?Below author Candace Osmond provides us a thorough description of their meaning, origin and usage as well as providing us with sample sentences and synonymous phrases. She also does a nice comparison of “at all costs” versus “at all cost.”
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At All Costs or At Any Cost – Idiom & Meaning
CANDACE OSMOND
IDIOM
If you want to make your conversations and writings more engaging and relatable, try using more idioms and expressions, like?at all costs, for example. But wait! Before you start using it, you need to know what it means and how it’s meant to be used. Don’t worry, I break down everything you need to know right here.
At All Costs Meaning Explained
We use the phrase?at all costs?to emphasize that a specific action absolutely needs to be done or a particular outcome must be achieved, no matter how much effort, sacrifice or risk it involves.
It’s like a parent’s need to protect their kids; it’s?at all costs, whatever it takes. Or you could apply it to the idea of running a business. Let’s say you need to meet a certain sales number in order to stay afloat. Well, you’d need to get those sales?at all costs.
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At All Costs or At Any Cost?
Actually, both?at all costs?and?at any cost?share the same meaning and are often used in place of one another. Both idioms emphasize the urgent necessity of accomplishing something, regardless of the difficulty or sacrifice that comes with it.
Is It At All Cost or At All Costs?
At all costs?and?at all cost?usage trend.
At all costs?is the more correct form of the phrase and is most common in both spoken and written English. The letter S in?costs?should not be omitted.
Origin and Etymology of At All Costs
The idiomatic expression?at all costs?first came from legal terminology and referred to bearing all types of expenses related to a case. Over time, it’s simply evolved to convey determination and the readiness to undergo any difficulty to achieve a goal.
Synonyms for At All Costs
Sometimes you just need to see other ways to say something in order to understand it. Also, synonyms help liven up your language and writing so it’s not repetitive.
By any means necessary
Come hell or high water
No matter what
Whatever it takes
Regardless of the consequences
Do or die
At any price
At All Costs Examples in a Sentence
At this point, we need to protect the environment at all costs, regardless of what big businesses say.
My daughter may be shy, but she was determined to win the dance competition at all costs.
We have to finish this science project at all costs before the deadline, or we’ll flunk the class and have to do it again next year.
Darren wants to achieve success in life at all costs.
I admire that they’re willing to preserve their cultural heritage at all costs.
My brother became a soldier and was prepared to defend his country at all costs.
Good Grammar at All Costs
Understanding the meaning and correct usage of?at all costs?can help enrich your vocabulary and enhance your communication skills. Whether you use it in everyday conversation, writing or even professional discourse, the phrase?at all costs?can effectively convey your determination and commitment.
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How do we express this same concept in Spanish and Portuguese? Following are translations into both languages with back translations into English in brackets:
Spanish
1) cueste lo que cueste [cost what it may]
2) a como dé lugar [whatever for it to take place]
3) a cualquier costo [at any cost]
4) a la brava [by force]
5) a toda costa [by all means]
6) a todo trance [at all hazards, at any risk]
7) como sea [one way or another, in whatever way possible]
8) por cualquier medio [by whatever means possible, by hook or by crook]
9) por todos los medios [by all means]
10) a cualquier precio [at any price]
Portuguese
1) a todo custo [at all cost]
2) a qualquer pre?o [at any price, at whatever price]
3) custe o que custar [cost what it may, whatever it takes, at any cost]
4) a todo o custo [at all cost, at any cost]
5) em todos os custos [in all costs]
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Sources
https://grammarist.com/idiom/at-all-costs-and-at-any-cost/
Magic English Spanish app
WordReference English Spanish app
WordReference English Portuguese app
www.bestdict.mobil English Portuguese app