mend the damage

USAGE SUMMARY

"mend the damage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of repairing or rectifying harm or destruction. For example: "The team worked hard to mend the damage caused by the hurricane."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The leg was lost, and he later endured dozens of operations to mend the damage.

The New York Times

For example, we have little idea how to mend the damage from the widespread destruction of a traumatic brain injury (the signature injury of America's wars).

The New York Times

Now Chile's leader is trying to mend the damage to the country done by General Augusto Pinochet and his foul dictatorship after his Western-supported coup in 1973.

Independent

John Korioth, one of Mr. Armstrong's oldest friends and a co-founder of the foundation, said he believed that the interview with Ms. Winfrey would begin to mend the damage.

The New York Times - Sports

Scrambling to mend the damage, Apple's acting chief executive, Steve Jobs, said yesterday that Apple and Intuit would make a joint announcement in the near future, although no further details were given.

The New York Times - Tech

According to the World Bank, between 1988 and 1996 systemic banking crises struck in 20 African countries, five of which had to spend more than a tenth of their GDP to mend the damage.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

And he sees schools incapable of mending the damage.

The New York Times

"While I am pleased to see the deal includes some relief from sequestration and we strongly support its passage by Congress, it is a small step forward in mending the damage done to medical research supported by NIH [the National Institutes of Health]," said Carrie Wolinetz, a spokesperson for United for Medical Research, a coalition of universities and advocacy groups, in a statement.

Science Magazine

DSBs can be repaired by non-homologous DNA end joining (Lieber, 2010), which mends the damage but has a high risk of inducing oncogenic translocations.

EMBO Journal

Sharing your true feelings with the affected person and talking it through can be a very cathartic and constructive way to start mending the damage done.

WikiHow

Now, though, De Villiers was freed from the necessity to mend the early damage, and with Du Plessis anchoring things, he began to play an expansive hand, the pair having added 102 for the fourth wicket by the time the rain began to fall in the middle of the second powerplay and the players were forced from the field.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mend the damage" when you want to convey a sense of actively working to repair something, whether it's physical, emotional, or societal.

Common error

Avoid using "mend the damage" in contexts where the damage is irreparable. Opt for phrases like "mitigate the impact" or "learn from the experience" when complete restoration is not possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mend the damage" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used as a verb with an object. It describes the action of repairing or rectifying harm. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mend the damage" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe the act of repairing harm or rectifying a negative situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for use in a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and general discussions. While there are more formal and informal alternatives, the phrase strikes a balance, making it versatile for different types of writing. Remember to use it in situations where repair is genuinely possible, and avoid overusing it metaphorically when complete restoration isn't feasible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

repair the harm

Focuses more on the act of fixing something that is broken or damaged.

rectify the damage

Implies correcting something that was wrongly done, making it right.

correct the harm

Similar to rectify, but can also refer to fixing a mistake or error.

fix the harm

A more informal way of saying to repair or resolve damage.

alleviate the harm

Focuses on reducing the severity of the damage, rather than fully repairing it.

mitigate the damage

Implies minimizing the impact or consequences of the damage.

remedy the situation

Focuses on improving a bad situation that has resulted from the damage.

heal the wounds

More metaphorical, referring to emotional or psychological damage.

restore what was lost

Highlights the act of bringing something back to its original state.

set things right

A more general expression for correcting what has gone wrong.

FAQs

How can I use "mend the damage" in a sentence?

You can use "mend the damage" to describe efforts to repair harm, such as "The government is trying to "mend the damage" caused by the economic crisis".

What phrases are similar to "mend the damage"?

Similar phrases include "repair the harm", "rectify the damage", or "correct the harm". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always possible to "mend the damage"?

No, sometimes the damage is too extensive to fully repair. In such cases, it may be more appropriate to focus on mitigating the negative effects or finding ways to move forward.

What's the difference between "mend the damage" and "fix the damage"?

"Fix the damage" is a more informal and general term, while "mend the damage" suggests a more careful and deliberate process of restoration.