hurt

hit someone where it hurts (most)

to do something which will upset someone as much as possible. She hit him where it hurt most - in his bank account. If you want to hit her where it really hurts, tell her she's putting on weight again.

See also: hit

Sticks and stones may break my bones (but words will never hurt me).

something that you say which means that people cannot hurt you with bad things they say or write about you. Criticism has never bothered me. Sticks and stones may break my bones, and all that.

See also: bone, break, may, Stick, stone

What you don't know won't hurt you.

something that you say which means that if you do not know about a fact or a problem, you do not worry about it. 'Tell me how much you spent on the car, then.' 'No, what you don't know won't hurt you.'

See also: don't, know, won't

wouldn't harm/hurt a fly

if you say that someone wouldn't hurt a fly, you mean that they are a gentle person and that they would not do anything to injure or upset anyone. Damian just isn't the violent type. He wouldn't hurt a fly.

See also: fly, harm, wouldn't

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it doesn't hurt to do something

it is an advantage to do or have something. It doesn't hurt to take a look at what you've done and see if it could be improved. It doesn't hurt to have a group of talented, educated people living in your community.

Usage notes: also used in the forms it couldn't hurt, it wouldn't hurt, or it can't hurt, or in the form of a question, would it hurt, all with the meaning that doing or having something would be an advantage

See also: doesn't

not hurt a fly

not injure or upset anyone or anything. She said the arrest was a mistake, that her husband wouldn't hurt a fly.

Usage notes: also used in the forms can't hurt a fly, couldn't hurt a fly, and would never hurt a fly: He was so gentle he would never hurt a fly.

See also: fly