ばかりに (bakari ni): An unfortunate outcome simply because of something
～ばかりに (bakari ni)
Meaning
Simply because; because of just one unfortunate cause
Formation and usage
Plain-form verb or i-adjective + ばかりに; na-adjective + な/である + ばかりに; noun + である + ばかりに.
Explanation
Emphasize a cause that led to an undesirable outcome, often with regret or blame. It is not a general substitute for kara; the point is that this single circumstance brought about the unfortunate result.
Examples
寝坊したばかりに、大事な面接に遅れました。
Simply because I overslept, I was late for an important interview.
住所を間違えたばかりに、荷物が届きませんでした。
The parcel failed to arrive because I had written the wrong address.
安いばかりにこの靴を買って、足を痛めました。
I bought these shoes just because they were cheap and hurt my feet.
一言余計なことを言ったばかりに、友達を怒らせてしまいました。
One unnecessary remark was enough to make my friend angry.
道を確認しなかったばかりに、一時間も迷いました。
Because I had not checked the route, I spent a whole hour lost.
How related patterns differ
によって may express a cause, means, or variation by circumstance, depending on the sentence. ばかりに emphasizes an unfortunate outcome, while おかげで commonly introduces a helpful cause. だけに highlights a reason that strengthens a result or feeling.