ENGLISH
REFERENCE

no harm, no foul

idiom
Meaning

Although technically a breach of some code or law may have occurred, there was no actual damage meriting punishment, apology or retribution.


Origin

disputed origin

From informal instances of sports, in which a foul is a formal violation of the rules.

Examples
SIMPLE

I accidentally broke your pen, but no harm, no foul.

CONTEXTUAL

You arrived ten minutes late, but since the meeting had not started yet, no harm, no foul.

COMPLEX

Although the clerk processed the paperwork incorrectly, the error was caught immediately, so the manager declared no harm, no foul.

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    cry foul

    To protest about something which appears to be unjust.

  2. 02

    fall foul

    To collide; to conflict with; to attack (+ on, of, upon)

  3. 03

    foul up

    To make a mistake, to go wrong.

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