collateral damage

• 最初为军事术语，指在攻击合法目标时对平民或非战斗人员造成的非故意破坏、伤亡。现在也泛指某一行动或决定带来的任何非故意负面后果或牺牲。

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.

1. Unintended harmC1formal

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

   附带损害

   • 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.

2. Unintended negative consequencesC1informal

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

   附带损害

   • 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.