to do harm to something
31do more harm than good — phrase to make a situation worse instead of better Strenuous exercise can often do more harm than good. Thesaurus: to make something worsesynonym Main entry: harm * * * inadvertently make a situation worse rather than better …
32mess with (something) — 1. to take apart or fix something complicated esp. in order to learn more about how it works. I enjoy messing with computers the way some folks get pleasure from rebuilding old cars. 2. to change something in a way that is likely to cause harm.… …
33out of harm's way — If you put something out of harm s way, you put it in a safe place where it won t be damaged. I m going to put this glass bowl out of harm s way so that it doesn t get broken …
34it wouldn't do somebody any harm (to do something) — it wouldn t do sb any harm (to do sth) idiom used to suggest that it would be a good idea for sb to do sth • It wouldn t do you any harm to smarten yourself up. Main entry: ↑harmidiom …
35eat someone or something alive — eat (someone or something) alive see ↑eat • • • Main Entry: ↑alive eat (someone or something) alive 1 of insects : to bite (someone or something) many times The mosquitoes were eating us alive. [=we were being bitten frequently by many… …
36strike a blow for something — 1) to do something to help or to support an idea, movement, or group She has struck a blow for common sense and human decency. 2) strike a blow at/against something to do something to harm or oppose an idea, movement, or group His main desire was …
37keep something in check — CURB, restrain, hold back, keep a tight rein on, rein in/back; control, govern, master, suppress, stifle; informal keep a lid on. → check * * * keep/hold/someone/something in check …
38(a) blot on something — a blot on something phrase something that spoils someone’s reputation, or spoils the appearance of something This is a serious blot on your career. Thesaurus: damage to someone s reputationsynonym signs of damagehyponym to harm someone s… …
39hold something in check — keep/hold/someone/something in check phrase to control someone or something that might cause damage or harm attempts to hold global warming in check Thesaurus: to limit or control something or someonesynonym Main entry: check * * …
40knock the bottom out of something — knock the bottom out of (something) informal to harm something and make it weaker, especially by taking away the thing it needs in order to continue or be successful. Ben losing his job has knocked the bottom out of our plans to buy a house …
