ばかりに simply because; just because; simply on account of - conjunction

A conjunction indicating that a single factors causes a negative situation.


Formation:
(i) Vinf.past ・食べたばかりに
(ii) Adj(i)inf ・難し｛い・かった｝ばかりに
(iii) Adj(na)stem・ 不便｛な・である・だった・であった｝ばかりに
(iv) N・先生{である・だった・であった｝ばかりに

（１）僕が一言変なことを言ったばかりに彼女との関係は悪くなったしまった。
Just because I said one strange thing to her, my relationship with her deteriorated.

（２）あの日たまたま休んでいたばかりに、大事な連絡を聞きそびれた。
I missed a really important announcement just because I happened to be absent that day.

（３）お金がなっかたばかりに、映画もろくに見られなかった。
I couldnt even go to the movies, just because I didnt have any money.

Notes
(1) The conjunction ばかりに is used to indicate that a single factor causes a negative situation.

(2) The main clause (i.e. not the ばかりに clause?!) indicates the resulting negative situation, but when the ばかりに clause takes the auxiliary adjective ～たい the main clause can indicate effort. For example...

あいつは目立ちたいばかりに似合わない派手な背広を着ている。
He is wearing a gaudy suit jacket that doesnt suit him just because he is so eager to stand out.

(3) If ばかりに is preceded by と　it has a totally different meaning "as if someone were saying"

彼は今がチャンスとばかりに彼女に言い寄った。
As if he was saying "now is my chance" he made advances towards her.