harm
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++harm1 /hɑːm $ hɑːrm/ ●●○ S3 W3 noun [uncountable] 1 HARM/BE BAD FORdamage, injury, or trouble caused by someone’s actions or by an event 损害；危害；伤害 The scandal did his career a lot of harm. 丑闻对他的职业生涯造成很大损害。 Our children deserve protection from harm. 我们的儿童理应得到保护免受伤害。 → grievous bodily harm2 come to no harm/not come to any harm INJUREto not be hurt or damaged 没有受到伤害[损害] She was relieved to see the children had come to no harm. 她看到孩子们没有受到伤害，舒了一口气。3 mean no harm/not mean any harm INTENDto have no intention of hurting or upsetting anyone 无意伤害，没有恶意 She’s a terrible gossip but she means no harm. 她很爱说长道短，不过没有恶意。4 there’s no harm in doing something/it does no harm to do something spokenSUGGEST used to suggest something to someone 不妨做某事 There’s no harm in trying. 试试也无妨。 It does no harm to ask. 不妨问问。5 it wouldn’t do somebody any harm to do something spoken used to suggest that someone should do something that may be helpful or useful to them 做某事对某人并无害处 It wouldn’t do you any harm to get some experience first. 你不妨先积累点经验。6 out of harm’s way a) SAFEif someone or something is out of harm’s way, they are in a place where they cannot be hurt or damaged 在安全的地方，在不受到伤害的地方 Copies of your documents should be kept in a safe place, well out of harm’s way. 你的那些文件要保存在安全的地方，一个绝对不会遭到损坏的地方。 b) SAFEif something dangerous is out of harm’s way, it is in a place where it cannot hurt anyone or damage anything 〔危险物品〕在不会造成伤害的地方 If you have small children, make sure that you store all medicines out of harm’s way. 如果你有年幼的孩子，一定要把药品存放在安全的地方。 COLLOCATIONSverbsdo (something) harm 对(某事物)有害Try to choose products that do the least harm to the environment. 尽量选择对环境损害最小的产品。cause (somebody/something) harm (对某人/某事)造成损害Very small amounts of the chemical cause no lasting harm. 极少量的这种化学品不会造成持久损害。inflict harm (=cause harm, especially physical harm) 造成伤害〔尤指身体伤害〕None of us wants to inflict harm on another human being. 我们没有人想对他人造成伤害。suffer harm 受到损害nA child can be taken into care if he is or is likely to suffer significant harm.prevent harm 防止损害nHe was put in a mental hospital to prevent harm to others.adjectivesgreat/serious/significant harm 极大的/严重的/相当大的伤害If you drink too much alcohol, you can do yourself serious harm. 饮酒过度对自己的身体非常有害。physical harm 身体伤害They were afraid that he would do them some actual physical harm. 他们担心他真的会对他们实施人身伤害。psychological/emotional harm 心理/情感伤害nDepriving a child of love does irreparable emotional harm.nenvironmental harmThe report highlights the environmental harm caused by transporting goods around the world.irreparable harm (=that cannot be made better) 无法弥补的损害nThe scandal has caused irreparable harm to his career.nlasting/permanent harmThe injury caused him discomfort but no lasting harm.untold harm (=so much harm that it cannot be described completely) 无法估计的损害nThis type of abuse can cause a child untold harm.npotential harmPeople need to be more aware of the potential harm of being overweight.phrasesdo more harm than good (=cause more problems rather than improve a situation) 弊大于利，弊多利少If you don’t warm up properly, exercise may do more harm than good. 如果不做适当的热身运动，锻炼有可能害多益少。no harm done spoken (=used to tell someone not to worry about something they have done) 没事，不要紧n‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you.’ ‘Don’t worry, no harm done.’where’s the harm in that? spoken (=used when you think that something seems reasonable, although other people may not) 那有什么害处呢？nSure, he gets attention when he performs at a charity event, but where’s the harm in that?COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘give harm’ or ‘make harm’. Say do harm or cause harm. 不要说 ‘give harm’ 或 ‘make harm’. 而要说 do harm 或 cause harm.Examples from the Corpus
harm• I had never done him any harm, yet I seemed to be the object of a deliberate campaign.• Several people were injured, but most escaped harm.• Unless you have a specific allergy, there is no great harm in taking something to relieve an isolated headache.• No great harm in that, from a cameraman; or so I thought at the time.• Stripped of his power to inflict harm on me, he seemed terribly ordinary.• He knew his father was a good man, a kind man, honest, meaning no harm to anyone.• A few weeks back here in the World won't do my career serious harm.• Very small amounts can be dealt with by the body causing no long term harm.• The trouble is that, though the harm so far may be slight, the legitimate anxiety is not.harm2 ●●○ verb [transitive] 1 HARM/BE BAD FORto have a bad effect on something 伤害，损害〔某事物〕 chemicals that harm the environment 损害环境的化学品 RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that something is bad for something rather than that it harms something: 在日常英语中，人们一般说something is bad for something，而不说it harms somethingchemicals that are bad for the environment 对环境有害的化学品2 INJUREto physically hurt a person or animal 伤害〔人、动物〕 The kidnappers didn’t harm him, thank God. 谢天谢地，绑匪没有伤害他。3. harm somebody’s image/reputation REPUTATIONto make people have a worse opinion of a person or group 损害某人的形象/名声 THESAURUSharm to have a bad effect on someone or something 伤害，损害〔人或物〕5Many women said parenthood harmed their careers.许多女性说抚养孩子阻碍了她们的职业前途。nMany working mothers said having children harmed their careers.A little hard work never harmed anyone. 工作努力一点对任何人都绝无害处。damage to harm something badly. Damage is more serious than harm 损害，损坏〔damage比harm的程度更严重〕His reputation was damaged and his career was in ruins. 他名声受损，事业尽毁。The affair has damaged people’s confidence in the government. 此次事件严重损害了民众对政府的信心。be bad for somebody/something to be likely to harm someone or something 对某人/某物有害Too much fatty food is bad for you. 过多食用高脂食品对身体不好。All this rain is bad for business. 下了这么多雨，真影响生意。be detrimental to something formal to be bad for something 对某物有害The new housing development will be detrimental to the character of this small town. 新建的住宅区会破坏这座小镇的特色。impair formal to harm something, especially someone’s ability to do something or the correct working of a system 削弱，损害〔做某事的能力或系统的正确运行〕Any amount of alcohol that you drink will impair your ability to drive. 喝酒无论多少都会影响驾驶能力。nHis vision was impaired.prejudice /ˈpredʒədɪs/ to have a bad effect on the future success of something 损害，不利于Don’t do anything to prejudice our chances of winning. 不要做任何阻碍我们获胜的事。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
harm• The most important consideration is that the environment is not harmed.• He would do anything, I think, to harm Arthur, even ally himself with the Saxons.• When a national industry is harmed by imports, governments can raise tariffs without violating trade agreement.• These companies fish for tuna using methods that do not harm dolphins.• As Polycarp prayed in silence, the flames encircled him, without harming him.• If it was going to harm our sales it would have done it by now.• Has it helped or harmed recipients?• Any scandal will certainly harm the company's reputation.• There are fears that a trade agreement will harm the economy.• These new export restrictions are sure to harm the economy.• The doom of all who harmed them was certain.• Walking out without giving any notice will only harm your career.Origin harm1 Old English hearmharm1 noun →COLLOCATIONS1harm2 verb →REGISTER1 →THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
Corpus someone’s or injury, by damage, trouble caused
harm
harm1 S3 W3 /hɑːm $ hɑːrm/ 
noun [uncountable]
The scandal did his career a lot of harm.
Our children deserve protection from harm. ⇨ grievous bodily harm
2. come to no harm/not come to any harm to not be hurt or damaged:
She was relieved to see the children had come to no harm.
3. mean no harm/not mean any harm to have no intention of hurting or upsetting anyone:
She’s a terrible gossip but she means no harm.
4. there’s no harm in doing something/it does no harm to do something spoken used to suggest something to someone:
There’s no harm in trying.
It does no harm to ask.
5. it wouldn’t do somebody any harm to do something spoken used to suggest that someone should do something that may be helpful or useful to them:
It wouldn’t do you any harm to get some experience first.
6. out of harm’s way
a. if someone or something is out of harm’s way, they are in a place where they cannot be hurt or damaged:
Copies of your documents should be kept in a safe place, well out of harm’s way.
b. if something dangerous is out of harm’s way, it is in a place where it cannot hurt anyone or damage anything:
If you have small children, make sure that you store all medicines out of harm’s way.
■ verbs
▪do (something) harm Try to choose products that do the least harm to the environment.
▪cause (somebody/something) harm Very small amounts of the chemical cause no lasting harm.
▪inflict harm (=cause harm, especially physical harm) None of us wants to inflict harm on another human being.
▪suffer harm A child can be taken into care if he is or is likely to suffer significant harm.
▪prevent harm He was put in a mental hospital to prevent harm to others.
■ adjectives
▪great/serious/significant harm If you drink too much alcohol, you can do yourself serious harm.
▪physical harm They were afraid that he would do them some actual physical harm.
▪psychological/emotional harm Depriving a child of love does irreparable emotional harm.
▪environmental harm The report highlights the environmental harm caused by transporting goods around the world.
▪irreparable harm (=that cannot be made better) The scandal has caused irreparable harm to his career.
▪lasting/permanent harm The injury caused him discomfort but no lasting harm.
▪untold harm (=so much harm that it cannot be described completely) This type of abuse can cause a child untold harm.
▪potential harm People need to be more aware of the potential harm of being overweight.
■ phrases
▪do more harm than good (=cause more problems rather than improve a situation) If you don’t warm up properly, exercise may do more harm than good.
▪no harm done spoken (=used to tell someone not to worry about something they have done) ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you.’ ‘Don’t worry, no harm done.’
▪where’s the harm in that? spoken (=used when you think that something seems reasonable, although other people may not) Sure, he gets attention when he performs at a charity event, but where’s the harm in that?
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'give harm' or 'make harm'. Say do harm or cause harm.
harm2 verb [transitive]
chemicals that harm the environment
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that something is bad for something rather than that it harms something:
▪chemicals that are bad for the environment
2. to physically hurt a person or animal:
The kidnappers didn’t harm him, thank God.
3. harm sb’s image/reputation to make people have a worse opinion of a person or group
▪ harm to have a bad effect on someone or something: Many women said parenthood harmed their careers. | A little hard work never harmed anyone.
▪damage to harm something badly. Damage is more serious than harm: His reputation was damaged and his career was in ruins. | The affair has damaged people’s confidence in the government.
▪be bad for somebody/something to be likely to harm someone or something: Too much fatty food is bad for you. | All this rain is bad for business.
▪be detrimental to something formal to be bad for something: The new housing development will be detrimental to the character of this small town.
▪impair formal to harm something, especially someone’s ability to do something or the correct working of a system: Any amount of alcohol that you drink will impair your ability to drive. | His vision was impaired.
▪prejudice /ˈpredʒədəs, ˈpredʒʊdəs/ to have a bad effect on the future success of something: Don’t do anything to prejudice our chances of winning.
| I |
noun [uncountable] Word Family: noun: harm, harmlessness; adjective: unharmed, harmful ≠ harmless; verb: harm; adverb: harmlessly
Language: Old English
Origin: hearm
1. damage, injury, or trouble caused by someone’s actions or by an event:Origin: hearm
2. come to no harm/not come to any harm to not be hurt or damaged:
3. mean no harm/not mean any harm to have no intention of hurting or upsetting anyone:
4. there’s no harm in doing something/it does no harm to do something spoken used to suggest something to someone:
5. it wouldn’t do somebody any harm to do something spoken used to suggest that someone should do something that may be helpful or useful to them:
6. out of harm’s way
a. if someone or something is out of harm’s way, they are in a place where they cannot be hurt or damaged:
b. if something dangerous is out of harm’s way, it is in a place where it cannot hurt anyone or damage anything:
| COLLOCATIONS |
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■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'give harm' or 'make harm'. Say do harm or cause harm.
| II |
verb [transitive] Word Family: noun: harm, harmlessness; adjective: unharmed, harmful ≠ harmless; verb: harm; adverb: harmlessly
1. to have a bad effect on something: REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that something is bad for something rather than that it harms something:
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2. to physically hurt a person or animal:
3. harm sb’s image/reputation to make people have a worse opinion of a person or group
| THESAURUS |
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damage to cause physical harm to sth, making it less attractive, useful or valuable; to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success 指毁坏、破坏、伤害、损害 ：◆ The fire badly damaged the town hall. 火灾使市政厅遭到严重破坏。 ◆ emotionally damaged children 感情上受伤害的孩子 hurt ( to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of successrather
指伤害、损害 ：◆ Hard work never hurt anyone. 努力工作绝无害处。 harm to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success 指伤害、损害 ：◆ Pollution can harm marine life. 污染会危及海洋生物。
damage, hurt or harm? 用 damage、hurt 还是 harm？
impair ( to damage sb's health, abilities or chancesrather
指损害、削弱（健康、能力或机会） ：◆ Even one drink can impair driving performance. 即使一杯酒也可能影响驾驶操作。
Patterns
to damage/hurt/harm/impair sb's chances to damage/hurt/harm sb's interests/reputation to damage/harm/impair sb's health to seriously/greatly damage/hurt/harm/impair sb/sthto badly/severely damage/hurt/impair sb/sth