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Grammar detail: ばかりに

ばかりに  just because ~; on account of ~
111 words
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ばかりに
means
just because (of something); on account of (something)
It is used in a situation where something is (somewhat unexpectedly) the reason for something else.
あれ
けいば
競馬
ねっちゅう
熱中
した
ばかりに
ざいさん
財産
ぜんぶ
全部
うしな
った

He lost his entire fortune because of his addiction to horse racing.
Often when ばかり is followed by the particle に, the に indicates state / location, or a set phrase such as になる. In this context it has its usual meaning - 'only, just':
その
へや
部屋
せる
ばかりなっている
The room is ready for us to move into.
... or, as in the set phrase,
おどろ
くばかりに, ばかり serves to provide emphasis:
かんしゅ
看守
たちほとんど
おどろ
くばかりに
しゅうねんぶか
執念深
ざんにん
残忍
でした
The majority of the guards were astonishingly vindictive and cruel.
Note: this form is easily confused with the んばかり form, but the meanings are quite different.
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Kanji used in this grammar

キョウ   surprised   おどろ to be surprised   おどろかす to surprise, to frighten   
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ヒ   かれ he   
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キョウ   ケイ   きそ    せ to compete   
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バ   うま horse   ま horse   
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ネツ   あつ hot   
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チュウ   ジュウ   なか middle   
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ザイ   サイ    money, wealth, property   
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サン    giving birth; products   う to give birth to   うまれる to be born   うぶ- newborn   
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ゼン   まった entirely   すべ everything   
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ブ   part
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シツ   うしな to lose   
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オク   や roof   
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イン   ひ to pull   ひける to be over   
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エツ   こ    こえる to surpass   
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カン    watch over   
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シュ   ス   まも to protect, guard   もり babysitting   
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シツ   シュウ   hold on to   と    
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ネン    idea, thought   
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シン   ふか deep   ふかめる to fill   ふかまる to deepen   
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ザン   のこ to remain behind   のこ to leave behind   
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ニン   しの to endure; lie hidden   しのばせる to conceal   
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