下面一句摘自 2018高考英语天津卷,请问为什么是 at all cost,而不是 costs 呢?
But something inside me was going to climb that mountain at all cost. I could hardly wait to try this adventure again.
at all costs = at any cost (adv.) (1)不惜任何花费 (2)不惜任何牺牲,无论如何 (摘自《英汉多功能词典》新编升级版)
at all cost/costs 不惜任何代价:You must stop the press from finding out at all costs.你必须不惜任何代价阻止媒体查明真相。at any cost 在任何情况下;无论如何:He is determined to win at any cost.他决心无论如何要争取胜利。(摘自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第9版)
To do something at all costs or (less commonly) at any cost is to do it even if you have to suffer, work very hard, lose everything you have,etc.不惜任何代价;无论如何 (摘自《韦氏高阶英汉双解词典》)
at all costs ,at any cost 不惜一切代价 (摘自《牛津英语搭配词典》第2版,英汉双解版)
所以,最好使用 at all costs ,不使用 at all cost 。