cost, expend, spend, take
这些动词均含“花费”之意。
cost : 指花费时间、金钱、劳力等。其主语是物，而不能由人充当，也不用被动形式。
expend : 较正式用词，通常指为某一专门目的而花费大量金钱、时间或精力。
spend : 普通用词，与cost基本同义，但主语必须是人。
take : 普通用词，指需要占用空间、时间或精力等，其主语可以是人，也可以是一件事情。

幽默故事

Be Careful What You Wish For

  A couple had been married for 25 years and were celebrating their 60th birthdays, which fell on the same day.

  During the celebration a fairy appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple for all 25 years, she would give them one wish each.

  The wife wanted to travel around the world. The fairy waved her hand, and Boom! She had the tickets in her hand.

  Next, it was the husband‘s turn. He paused for a moment, then said shyly, 'Well, I‘d like to have a woman 30 years younger than me.'

  The fairy picked up her wand, and Boom! He was ninety.

  一对结婚25周年的夫妻在庆祝他们六十岁的生日。他们恰好在同一天出生。

  庆祝活动中，一位仙女出现了。她说，由于他们是已经结婚25年的恩爱夫妻，因此她给许给这对夫妻每个人一个愿望。

  妻子想周游世界。仙女招了招手。“!”的一声，她的手中出现了一张票。

  接下来该丈夫许愿了。他犹豫片刻，害羞地说，“那我想要一位比我年轻30岁的女人。”

  仙女拾起了魔术棒。“!”，他变成了90岁。