harm

harm1 [ harm ] noun uncount **

injury, damage, or problems caused by something you do:

projects that lead to environmental harm

do/cause (someone) harm: The occasional piece of candy doesn't do you any harm.

The new law is likely to do irreparable harm in urban areas.

The low levels of cyanide in the river were sufficient to cause harm to aquatic life.

do more harm than good

to make a situation worse instead of better:

Strenuous exercise can often do more harm than good.

in harm's way FORMAL

in a dangerous situation

it wouldn't do someone any harm MAINLY SPOKEN

used for saying what you think someone should do:

It wouldn't do you any harm to listen to her advice.

mean no harm

to not intend to hurt, damage, or upset someone or something:

I didn't mean any harm, it was just a joke.

no harm comes to someone/something or someone/something comes to no harm

used for saying that someone or something is not damaged, hurt, or badly affected

no harm done SPOKEN

used for telling someone not to worry about something they did, because nothing bad has happened as a result

out of harm's way FORMAL

in a safe place, so that nothing bad can happen

there's no harm in doing something or something does no harm

used for saying that something will not cause any problems and may be helpful:

There's no harm in asking.

harm

harm 2 [ harm ] verb transitive *

to injure, damage, or have a bad effect on someone or something:

He was not the type to deliberately harm his child.

Does watching violence on TV really harm children?

Publication of those documents would harm the national interest.

The government insists that the dam will not harm the environment.

it wouldn't harm someone to do something MAINLY SPOKEN

used for saying what you think someone should do, especially when you are angry