do more harm than good

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to be damaging rather than helpful Giving children too much freedom often does more harm than good.

Usage notes: usually said about things that are intended to be helpful but do not have a good result

See also: good, harm, more

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? References in classic literature
At first, he could give no encourage- ment; with unfeigned diffidence, he expressed his conviction that he was not adequate to the perform- ance of so great a task; the path marked out was wholly an untrodden one; he was sincerely appre- hensive that he should do more harm than good. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave by Douglass, Frederick View in context I must not ask him, for fear I shall do more harm than good, but I must somehow learn the facts of his journey abroad. Dracula by Stoker, Bram View in context More results

? References in classic literature

At first, he could give no encourage- ment; with unfeigned diffidence, he expressed his conviction that he was not adequate to the perform- ance of so great a task; the path marked out was wholly an untrodden one; he was sincerely appre- hensive that he should do more harm than good.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave by Douglass, Frederick View in context

I must not ask him, for fear I shall do more harm than good, but I must somehow learn the facts of his journey abroad.

Dracula by Stoker, Bram View in context

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do homework
Do I have to spell it out?
Do I make myself clear?
do justice to
do level best
do me a favour
Do me a favour!
do more harm than good
Do not wash your dirty linen in public
do nut
do one better
do oneself proud
do over
do own thing
do part

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