harm
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it wouldn't do (someone) any harm (to do something)
It would or may be good, pragmatic, or beneficial for someone (to do something). You know, it wouldn't do you any harm to comb your hair from time to time. I know that the managers are trying to cut costs, but it wouldn't do them any harm to treat us to a staff lunch every once in a while. Jonathan should try and spend more time with his mother. It wouldn't do him any harm, after all.
there is no harm in (someone's) doing (something)
Doing something may be good, pragmatic, or beneficial, and will not cause any problems or harm. The contractor might not be willing to go any lower on the price, but there's no harm in asking. Sure, you might not be accepted for the PhD program, but there's no harm in your trying, is there?
it does no harm (for someone) to do (something)
Doing something may be good, pragmatic, or beneficial, and will not cause any problems or harm. The contractor might not be willing to go any lower on the price, but it does no harm to ask. Sure, you might not be accepted for the PhD program, but it does no harm for you to try, does it?
come to harm
To encounter an unpleasant situation, often one involving injury or damage. If anyone comes to harm in this operation, you will have to answer to the chief. My car came to harm during the storm when a tree branch fell on it.
do more harm than good
To exacerbate the problem, rather than making it better, often in the process of trying to help. I'm worried that I did more harm than good by applying that tourniquet by myself. I should have just waited for the paramedics to get here. Doug means well, but he usually does more harm than good when he tries to help with the sorting.
harm a hair on (one's) head
To hurt or injure one in any way. This phrase is often used in the negative. If I find that he harmed a hair on your head, I'll go to his house right now! He wouldn't dare harm a hair on your head—not when I'm around.
no harm, no foul
If there was no bad outcome to an action, then there's no need to be angry or upset about it. A: "Oh, excuse me! I'm so sorry for knocking over your glass!" B: "It's OK, it was empty. No harm, no foul!"
wouldn't harm a fly
Is particularly shy, diffident, or timid by nature. My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who wouldn't harm a fly. How can you suspect him of committing this crime?
mean (one) no harm
To have no intention of causing harm, offense, or negative effects (to one). I'm so sorry that my comments got you fired—I swear, I meant no harm! Please, put down the gun, I mean you no harm.
not mean (one) any harm
To have no intention of causing harm, offense, or negative effects (to one). I'm so sorry that my comments got you fired—I swear, I didn't mean any harm! Please, put down the gun, I don't mean you any harm.
come to no harm
To not receive or undergo injury, damage, or mistreatment. If you follow the instructions and pay us the money, I guarantee that your son will come to no harm. We must ensure that civilians come to no harm during the operation.
not come to harm
To not receive or undergo injury, damage, or mistreatment. If you follow the instructions and pay us the money, I guarantee that your son will not come to harm. We must ensure that civilians don't come to harm during the operation.
not harm a hair on (one's) head
To not hurt or injure someone in even the slightest degree. They had better not harm a hair on your head, or I'll go to the police!
not touch a hair on (one's) head
To not hurt or injure someone in even the slightest degree. They had better not touch a hair on your head, or I'll go to the police!
no harm done
There was no real damage or seriously bad outcome (as a result of something), so there is no need to worry or get angry about it. Hey, stop shouting! Your brother didn't break the toy, this piece just popped off, see? There, I fixed it, no harm done. A: "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you standing there!" B: "It's OK, you barely grazed me. No harm done!"
out of harm's way
Not or no longer in a place, condition, or situation that might result in one's harm or peril. We need to get all these bystanders out of harm's way before we try and put the fire out. You're so anxious to keep your children out of harm's way that you're going to end up denying them a lot of valuable life experiences.
come to harm
to experience something bad; to get damaged or harmed. I sincerely hope that you do not come to harm. I hope no one comes to harm.
*in harm's way
Fig. liable to be harmed; subject to potential causes of harm. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; put someone ~.) Soldiers are expected to know what to do when they are in harm's way.
See also: way
No harm done.
It is all right. No one or nothing has been harmed. It's okay. No harm done. A: I am sorry I stepped on your toe. B: No harm done.
*out of harm's way
Fig. not liable to be harmed; away from any causes of harm. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; get someone ~.) We should try to get all the civilians out of harm's way.
do someone wrong
Also, do someone damage or harm . Injure someone; be unfaithful or disloyal; act unjustly or unfairly toward someone. For example, John's done me wrong, and I intend to tell him so, or She did him real damage when she started that rumor: The first term dates from the late 1300s; the substitutions of damage and harm are newer. However, while these locutions are still current, a more common modern usage is to turn them into verbal phrases-that is, wrong someone, harm someone, damage someone.
out of harm's way
In a safe condition or place, as in We fenced the yard to keep the children out of harm's way. This idiom was first recorded about 1661.
wouldn't hurt a fly
orwouldn't harm a fly
If someone wouldn't hurt a fly or wouldn't harm a fly, they are very kind and gentle. She was such a lovely girl, who wouldn't have hurt a fly. He is, he insists, a pacifist, who would not harm a fly.
out of harm's way
COMMON If someone or something is out of harm's way, they are in a safe place away from danger or from the possibility of being damaged. For parents, this is an easy way of keeping their children entertained, or simply out of harm's way. Workers scrambled to carry priceless objects out of harm's way.
there's no harm in doing something
COMMON People say there's no harm in doing something to mean that it will not cause problems and may have a good result. They are not always willing to take on untrained workers, but there's no harm in asking. As I see it, there is no harm in cooperating with the police.
wouldn't hurt (or harm) a fly
used to emphasize how inoffensive and harmless a person or animal is.not harm a hair of someone's head
not cause someone the slightest harm.out of harm's way
in a safe place. 1996 Frank McCourt Angela's Ashes Take down the Pope and hide him in the coal hole…where he won't be seen and he'll be out of harm's way.
there is no harm in —
the course of action specified may not guarantee success but is at least unlikely to have unwelcome repercussions. 1997 Arundhati Roy The God of Small Things He decided that since she couldn't have a husband there was no harm in her having an education.
he, she, etc. wouldn’t harm/hurt a ˈfly
he, she, etc. is kind and gentle, and would not hurt anyone: The dog may look very fierce, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly.not harm/touch a hair of somebody’s ˈhead
not hurt somebody physically in any way at all: If he harms a hair of my daughter’s head, I’ll kill him.ˌno ˈharm done
(spoken) used to tell somebody not to worry because they have caused no serious damage or injury: Forget it, Dave, no harm done.not come to (any) ˈharm
,come to no ˈharm
not be injured, badly treated or damaged, etc: The child will come to no harm if she stays there.out of harm’s ˈway
in a place where somebody/something cannot cause or suffer injury, accident, loss, etc: Most people think that dangerous criminals should be locked up out of harm’s way. ♢ You should put these glasses out of harm’s way. They’re too valuable to use every day.there’s no harm in (somebody’s) doing something
,it does no harm (for somebody) to do something
used to tell somebody that something is a good idea and will not cause any problems: He may say no, but there’s no harm in asking. ♢ It does no harm to ask.mean (somebody) no ˈharm
,not mean (somebody) any ˈharm
not have any intention of hurting somebody: Try not to worry about what he said. I know you thought he was rude, but he didn’t mean any harm by it.out of harm's way
In a safe place, away from possible accident or injury. This term dates from the mid-1600s. Richard Steele had it in The Spectator (1711) in what might well be hyperbolic form: “People send Children to school to keep them out of harm’s way.” Oddly enough the corollary, “in harm’s way,” never caught on.