But skeptics worry that costs may be trimmed at the expense of the patient.

Don't profit yourself at the expense of others.

不要占他人的便宜.

Neither should be overemphasized at the expense of the other.

二者不可偏废.

The owner is making huge profits at the expense of downtrodden peasants.

物主靠压榨农民而赢得暴利。

The dealers profited shamefully at the expense of my family.

这些经销商通过损害我家人的利益不光彩地赚钱。

They are worth having but not at the expense of better services.

它们值得拥有，但是不能因此放弃更好的服务。

The orchestra has more discipline now, but at the expense of spirit.

那个管弦乐团现在更有纪律性了，却丧失了灵魂。

We got up at the first streak of daylight.

我们一天亮就起床了.

At the first call of the music, she became irresponsible.

只要一听到音乐开始召唤, 她就不管三七二十一了.

The surprising attack was on at the first light.

天一亮,就发起了突然袭击.

The men had relinquished their position at the first serious counterattack.

士兵们经不起敌人稍微用点力气一反扑,又把阵地丢了.

He climbed down at the first sign of opposition.

他一见到反对的迹象,就缩了回去.

I roused at the first sound of his voice.

他一出声,我就醒了.

She bestirred herself at the first light of morning.

天一亮,她就忙碌起来.

You can pre-empt pain by taking a painkiller at the first warning sign.

刚出现征兆时，就服用止痛片来预防疼痛。

Then, at the first sniff of danger, he was back at his post.

然后，他一嗅到危险的气息，便马上回到自己的岗位。

Strangers at the first meeting become familiar at the next.

一遭生,两遭熟.

He always retreated emotionally at the first whiff of conflict.

只要有一点冲突的迹象,他在感情上就退缩.

He gets on his soap-box at the first opportunity.

他一有机会就长篇大论讲个没完.

She pounced at the first opportunity to ask the way.

她一有机会就向人问路.

I shall at the first opportunity.

早就说了.