A2 Expression Neutral

a costo di

at the cost of

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'a costo di' to show you are determined to reach a goal, even if it requires a big sacrifice.

  • Means: 'At the cost of' or 'even if it means...'
  • Used in: Personal goals, professional commitments, and dramatic promises.
  • Don't confuse: 'A patto di' which means 'on the condition that'.
Hard Work 🏋️‍♂️ + Personal Sacrifice 📉 = Final Goal 🏆

Explanation at your level:

In Italian, 'a costo di' means you want to do something very much. You are ready to work hard or be tired to get what you want. It is like saying 'I will do it, even if it is difficult.' You use it with a basic verb like 'dormire' (to sleep) or 'studiare' (to study).
This expression is used to show determination. 'A costo di' is followed by an infinitive verb (like 'mangiare', 'andare') or a noun. It explains that the person is willing to pay a 'price' (not always money, but effort or time) to reach a goal. It's a great way to sound more natural when talking about your plans.
At this level, 'a costo di' serves as a subordinating phrase that expresses a concessive-like meaning with a strong focus on the speaker's will. It implies a trade-off. It is frequently used in professional contexts to show commitment or in personal storytelling to highlight the obstacles one is willing to overcome. It doesn't require the subjunctive, making it a reliable tool for complex sentences.
The phrase 'a costo di' functions as a complex prepositional locution. It introduces a condition of sacrifice that the subject is willing to accept. It is often used to contrast a positive goal with a negative potential consequence. In B2 writing, it helps create a more sophisticated argumentative structure, showing that the writer has considered the risks but remains committed to their thesis.
Linguistically, 'a costo di' operates as a marker of high-modality determination. It signals a conscious weighing of pros and cons, where the 'cons' (the cost) are explicitly acknowledged but dismissed in favor of the 'pros' (the objective). It can be used to add dramatic weight or to precisely define the limits of one's endurance in formal rhetoric or high-level negotiations.
In the realm of near-native mastery, 'a costo di' is employed with nuanced precision to navigate the delicate balance between tenacity and obstinacy. It reflects a cognitive framework where the agent proactively accepts a detrimental state to preserve a higher-order value. Mastery involves recognizing when the phrase transitions from a statement of intent to a rhetorical device used to evoke empathy or signal uncompromising ideological stances.

Bedeutung

To be willing to do something despite the sacrifice.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

In Italy, cycling is a sport of 'sofferenza' (suffering). Commentators often use 'a costo di' to describe riders who push through extreme pain to win a stage of the Giro d'Italia. The 'sacrificio' for the family is a core cultural pillar. Parents often express their devotion to their children's future using this phrase. Italian opera is full of characters who pursue love or revenge 'a costo della vita'. This has influenced the modern language to be slightly more dramatic than English. While Italians value 'la dolce vita', they also deeply respect 'la grinta'—the ability to work hard and overcome obstacles with passion.

🎯

Use it for motivation

When writing your goals in Italian, use 'a costo di' to make them feel more powerful and committed.

⚠️

Don't over-dramatize

If you use it for small things like 'I'll buy milk a costo di camminare', people might think you are being sarcastic.

Bedeutung

To be willing to do something despite the sacrifice.

🎯

Use it for motivation

When writing your goals in Italian, use 'a costo di' to make them feel more powerful and committed.

⚠️

Don't over-dramatize

If you use it for small things like 'I'll buy milk a costo di camminare', people might think you are being sarcastic.

💬

The 'Grinta' factor

Italians love passion. Using this phrase correctly shows you understand the emotional weight of determination in Italian culture.

Teste dich selbst

Complete the sentence with the correct form: 'a costo di' or 'a costo della'.

Vincerò la maratona, _______ faticare moltissimo.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a costo di

'Faticare' is a verb (infinitive), so we use 'a costo di'.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Choose the correct option:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: b

'A costo di' must be followed by an infinitive when the subject is the same.

Match the 'cost' to the 'goal'.

Goal: 'Imparare l'italiano'. What is a logical 'costo'?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: b

Studying three hours a day is a significant sacrifice/effort for the goal.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

A: 'È un lavoro pericoloso.' B: 'Non mi importa, lo farò _______.'

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a costo di rischiare

'Rischiare' (to risk) is the logical consequence of a 'pericoloso' (dangerous) job.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, you usually use 'a costo di' with an action (verb) or a thing (noun). If you mean 'at the expense of a person', use 'a scapito di'.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or with your best friend.

No! That's the best part. Just use the infinitive (the -are, -ere, -ire form).

'A costo di' specifies the sacrifice (e.g., a costo di non dormire). 'A ogni costo' just means 'at any cost' and is more general.

Yes, but 'al costo di' is more common for literal money. 'A costo di' is better for figurative effort.

Yes, very often to show commitment to a project or a deadline.

Yes, e.g., 'A costo di sembrare scortese, devo andare via'.

Yes, but it's stronger. It implies you are actively choosing the sacrifice.

You can say 'a ogni costo' or 'costi quel che costi'.

Very common! Italian pop songs are full of dramatic determination.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

a ogni costo

synonym

at any cost

🔗

pur di

similar

just to / in order to

🔗

a scapito di

contrast

at the expense of

🔗

a patto di

contrast

on the condition of

🔗

costi quel che costi

builds on

whatever it takes / cost what it may

Wo du es verwendest

💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: È disposto a viaggiare spesso?

Candidate: Certamente, accetterò l'incarico a costo di stare lontano da casa.

formal
🏋️‍♀️

Gym/Fitness

Trainer: L'allenamento di oggi è durissimo.

Athlete: Non importa, finirò tutto a costo di svenire!

informal
❤️

Romantic Promise

Partner A: Mi mancherai quando sarai via.

Partner B: Tornerò da te ogni weekend, a costo di guidare tutta la notte.

informal
📚

Academic Pressure

Student 1: L'esame di domani è impossibile.

Student 2: Passerò questo esame, a costo di studiare fino all'alba.

neutral
🥗

Dieting/Health

Friend: Vuoi un pezzo di torta?

Dieter: No grazie, resterò a dieta a costo di guardarti mangiare tutto!

informal
⏰

Work Deadline

Boss: Il report deve essere pronto per domani mattina.

Employee: Lo finirò, a costo di saltare la cena.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the word 'COST'. You are buying success, and the 'cost' is your effort or sacrifice.

Visual Association

Imagine a person climbing a steep mountain made of books or office papers. At the top is a gold trophy. The person is sweating but smiling. The mountain is the 'costo'.

Rhyme

A costo di faticare, il traguardo puoi tagliare.

Story

Marco wants to be a chef. He works all day in a bank, but at night he goes to cooking school. He says, 'Diventerò uno chef, a costo di non dormire mai!' (I will become a chef, even if I never sleep!). His passion is the fuel, and his sleep is the 'costo'.

Word Web

sacrificioprezzodeterminazionefaticaobiettivosceltarischio

Herausforderung

Write down one big goal you have for this year. Then, write one thing you are willing to sacrifice for it using 'a costo di'.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

a costa de

Italian 'a costo di' is more focused on personal sacrifice.

French moderate

au prix de / quitte à

French uses 'quitte à' more frequently for the 'even if' sense.

German partial

um den Preis von / auf die Gefahr hin

German requires more complex sentence structures.

Japanese low

...を犠牲にして (wo gisei ni shite)

Italian is more common in everyday, less 'life-or-death' situations.

Arabic moderate

على حساب (ala hisab)

Arabic often implies that the 'cost' is being taken from something else (like health or time).

Chinese moderate

以...为代价 (Yǐ... wéi dàijià)

Much more formal than the Italian 'a costo di'.

Korean partial

...을 무릅쓰고 (eul mureupsseugo)

Focuses more on 'braving' an external condition than 'paying' a personal cost.

Portuguese high

a custo de

Virtually no difference in usage.

Easily Confused

a costo di vs. a patto di

Both start with 'a' and end with 'di', and both involve conditions.

Think: 'Costo' = Sacrifice/Price. 'Patto' = Pact/Deal.

a costo di vs. a scapito di

Both mean something is lost.

'A costo di' is usually your choice. 'A scapito di' is often an accidental or negative side effect.

FAQ (10)

No, you usually use 'a costo di' with an action (verb) or a thing (noun). If you mean 'at the expense of a person', use 'a scapito di'.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or with your best friend.

No! That's the best part. Just use the infinitive (the -are, -ere, -ire form).

'A costo di' specifies the sacrifice (e.g., a costo di non dormire). 'A ogni costo' just means 'at any cost' and is more general.

Yes, but 'al costo di' is more common for literal money. 'A costo di' is better for figurative effort.

Yes, very often to show commitment to a project or a deadline.

Yes, e.g., 'A costo di sembrare scortese, devo andare via'.

Yes, but it's stronger. It implies you are actively choosing the sacrifice.

You can say 'a ogni costo' or 'costi quel che costi'.

Very common! Italian pop songs are full of dramatic determination.

War das hilfreich?

Kommentare (0)

Zum Kommentieren Anmelden
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!