collateral damage

A term originally from military contexts referring to unintended destruction, injuries, or deaths of civilians or non-combatants during an attack on a legitimate target. It is now also used more broadly to describe any unintended negative consequences or casualties resulting from an action or decision.

• 🇷🇺Термин, изначально военный, обозначающий непреднамеренное разрушение, ранения или гибель гражданских лиц или некомбатантов во время атаки на законную цель. Сейчас также используется в более широком смысле для описания любых непреднамеренных негативных последствий или жертв в результате действия или решения.

1. Unintended harm C1 formal

   Injury or damage inflicted on people or property that are not the intended target, especially in a military context.

   • The airstrike caused significant collateral damage to nearby civilian homes.
   • Military commanders try to minimize collateral damage during operations.
   • The report detailed the collateral damage from the bombing campaign.

   🇷🇺Сопутствующий ущерб

2. Unintended negative consequences C1 informal

   Unforeseen and often negative side effects of an action or decision.

   • The new policy had some collateral damage, including job losses in small businesses.
   • The company's restructuring caused collateral damage to employee morale.
   • The project's success came with collateral damage to the environment.

   🇷🇺Побочный ущерб