文本来源：佛山英语培训 首选爱德华国际英语

 Why did Berk have a good laugh at Allan's expense?
（误译）为什么伯克大笑艾伦的花费？
（正译）为什么伯克对艾伦大加嘲笑？

1. laugh at 嘲笑；因……而发笑
I prefer you laugh at me to my face!
你要笑就当着我的面笑！
It is important to laugh at oneself.
对着你自己笑是重要的。
Oh, cheer up! Nobody will laugh at you.
哦，振作起来吧，没人会笑你的。
2.expense n. 损失，代价；消费；开支 vt. 向……收取费用 vi. 被花掉
at the expense of 以……为代价；由……支付费用
In that case the politicians' push for more trade may come at the expense of fair trade.
在这样的局面下，政客们推动的贸易量的增长只能以公平贸易作为代价。
It must also be fair, not allowing one task to run efficiently at the expense of another.
它也必须公平，不能因为要有效率地执行某项任务，而牺牲了另一项任务。
People sell it, at the expense of their leisure time, purely as a means to the end of consumption.
人们以自己的闲暇时间为代价出售它，仅仅是为了消费的手段。
at no expenseat 不花钱地；没有损失地
I will stop at no expense to obtain it.
我将不惜一切花费来得到它。
There is no happiness for people at the expense of other people.
为了自己而牺牲别人，不会不快乐。
If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you at no expense.
如果无法负担律师费用，法院将为你指派一名辩护律师。

Gordon is at once modest and clever.
（误译）戈等立即显得聪明和谦逊。
（正译）戈登既聪明又谦逊。
1. at once 马上，立刻
We agreed on starting at once.
我们一致同意立即出发。
The police decided to move at once.
警察决定立即采取行动。
Better deny at once than promise long.
与其长期许诺，还不如立即拒绝。
2. at once 同时
Qubits are able to exist as both 0 and 1 at once.
量子位元能同时以0与1的状态存在。
That's a disadvantage when you're cooking several things at once.
如果同时要烹饪几件时这是一个缺点。
Bill can play the piano , sing and lead his orchestra all at once.
比尔能够同时弹钢琴、唱歌和领导他的管弦乐队。
意思相近的短语：
1. on the spot 立刻，当场；在危险中；处于负责地位
We are a bit on the spot here.
我们这里有点麻烦。
He would invent fanciful names on the spot.
他会当场发明出一些怪诞的名称。
That would put the administration on the spot.
这将让政府陷入困境。
2. in a snap 马上，立刻
Easily upload your video to the web in a snap!
轻松上传你的视频，该网站要在瞬间完成！
Not with a genius like me. I can get this done in a snap.
像我这样的天才是不必的。我只要一下子就搞定了。
In a snap, the song information will appear on the screen.
很快这个歌曲信息将显示在屏幕上。
3. in a heartbeat 马上；立刻
If i were you, I'd divorce him in a heartbeat.
如果我是你，我会毫不犹豫地跟他离婚。
What do you mean: wait? I could kill you in a heartbeat if I wanted to.
“等等”是什么意思？要知道我可以不费吹灰之力就杀掉你。
These things happen quickly on-screen, with the years elapsing in a heartbeat.
种种因果在银幕上飞快掠过，而一年年的岁月以心跳的速度流逝着。

Gary spoke at length about the bridge.
（误译）加里讲述了那座桥的长度。
（正译）吉里详细地讲述了那座桥的事。
at length 详细地
Her speech was reported at length in the newspapers.
她的演讲词在报纸上详细地登载出来。
We have already discussed the matter at great length.
我们已经详细地讨论了这件事。
The teacher explained the text at length.
老师详细地解释了课文。
at length 最后
At length, our football team beat others.
最后，我们的足球队战胜了其他队。
At length, a brand new world came into being.
最后，一个全新的世界诞生。
At length, weary with wandering, they fell asleep.
最后，因为游逛得很疲乏，他们都睡着了。
at length 终于
At length a trifle snapped our connection;
终于因为一件小事，把我们的关系弄僵了。
The besieged city at length hung out the white flag.
被围城市终于扯起了白旗乞降。
Time passed, and at length his wife bore him a child.
光阴荏苒，他妻子终于给他生了一个孩子。