Collateral damage

USAGE SUMMARY

"collateral damage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to unintended property damage, injuries, or deaths that result from an action, typically a military action. For example, "The mayor condemned the attack, pointing to the great collateral damage it caused."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Collateral damage, for example.

The New York Times

"Collateral Damage" opened in February.

The New York Times

"Collateral damage" means "killing people accidentally".

The Economist

Collateral damage," he says with a laugh.

The New York Times - Style

Collateral damage.

Huffington Post

Collateral damage averted.

Huffington Post

Collateral Damage and the N.Y.

Huffington Post

Call it collateral damage.

The Economist

"I'm collateral damage".

The New York Times

Rockets inflict collateral damage.

The Guardian - Opinion

… No, we're collateral damage".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "collateral damage", be mindful of the context. It's often associated with military or political discussions, so using it in everyday situations might sound overly dramatic or insensitive. Consider alternatives like "unintended consequences" or "side effects" in less formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "collateral damage" in trivial situations. Overusing the term can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. For instance, describing a minor inconvenience as "collateral damage" is inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collateral damage" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the subject complement. Ludwig shows examples where it describes unintended harm resulting from a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Reference

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collateral damage" is a noun phrase used to describe unintended negative consequences, predominantly in the context of military actions, policy decisions, or other significant events. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness, and Ludwig provides many examples showcasing its usage across diverse news and media sources, making it a very common term. While broadly applicable, caution is advised in informal settings where its use might be perceived as overly dramatic. Related phrases include "unintended consequences" and "inadvertent harm", offering nuanced alternatives depending on the specific situation. The phrase functions to emphasize unintended harm and is most frequently found in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unintentional damage

Directly describes the act of causing harm without intending to, similar in meaning but lacking the specific context often associated with "collateral damage".

Accidental casualties

Specifically refers to unintended injuries or deaths, aligning closely with the original military context of "collateral damage".

Inadvertent harm

Highlights the unintentional nature of the damage caused, similar to "collateral damage" but applicable in a broader range of situations.

Unforeseen repercussions

Emphasizes the unexpected and often negative effects that follow an action or decision, similar to the broader implications of "collateral damage".

Incidental losses

Refers to the unintended losses that occur as a result of a primary action, similar in concept to "collateral damage" but applicable in various scenarios.

Unintended consequences

Focuses on the unplanned results of an action, whether positive or negative, differing from "collateral damage" which specifically implies negative outcomes.

Side effects

Commonly used in medical or technical contexts to refer to unintended outcomes, similar to "collateral damage" in the sense of being secondary and often undesirable.

Peripheral costs

Emphasizes the additional expenses or negative consequences incurred alongside a primary action, sharing the concept of unintended negative results with "collateral damage".

Indirect effects

Points to the secondary or less obvious outcomes of an action, differing from "collateral damage" in that it does not necessarily imply harm.

Associated risks

Focuses on potential negative outcomes linked to an action, differing from "collateral damage" in that it is a more general term for possible harm.

FAQs

What does "collateral damage" mean?

"Collateral damage" refers to unintended harm, injuries, or deaths that occur as a result of an action, particularly in military operations or policy decisions. It often describes negative consequences that were not the primary goal but are nonetheless a result.

How to use "collateral damage" in a sentence?

You can use "collateral damage" to describe unintended negative effects. For example, "The new policy had some "unintended consequences", including "collateral damage" to small businesses."

What are some synonyms for "collateral damage"?

Synonyms for "collateral damage" include "unintended consequences", "inadvertent harm", and "accidental casualties". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "collateral damage" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, using "collateral damage" in everyday conversation might be perceived as overly dramatic or insensitive, especially if the context doesn't involve serious consequences. Consider using alternative phrases like "side effects" or "unforeseen repercussions" in less formal settings.