disservice

/dɪsˈsɜːvɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪsˈsɜːrvɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)di(s)-ˈsər-vəs/ (ame, mw)

disservice — noun

1. something you do that hurts another person or damages how others think of them,

1.名詞C1
釋義

something you do that hurts another person or damages how others think of them, often when you meant to help.

例句

By praising every essay equally, Daniel did his students a disservice and let weak writing slide.

do somebody a disservice — well-intentioned action that ends up harming

Quan felt the news report had done a serious disservice to nurses by ignoring their long working hours.

do a disservice to + group

同義詞
  • harm

    general damage; lacks the 'often well-meant' nuance of disservice

  • injury

    formal; emphasises wrongful damage to reputation or interests

  • wrong

    moral failing; broader and more accusatory than disservice

反義詞
  • service

    a helpful act, especially one that benefits another person

  • favour

    an act of kindness done willingly for someone

文法句型

do a disservice to + person

do somebody a disservice

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'do (somebody) a disservice'. Subject is typically a person, a piece of writing, a report, or an action — never an abstract feeling. Often used when the harm was unintended or came from misplaced kindness.

常見錯誤

❌I made him a disservice.
✅I did him a disservice.
💡the verb is 'do', not 'make'.
❌The article gave a disservice to teachers.
✅The article did a disservice to teachers.
💡collocates with 'do', not 'give'.