In harm’s way?

Reader question:

Please explain “in harm’s way” in this sentence: I pray for our troops in harm’s way.

My comments:

Here, the speaker prays for soldiers, wishing that they all will be safe.

Safe from harm, i.e. from bullets and cannon shells in the battlefield.

Literally, when you send soldiers to the battlefield, you put them in harm’s way, making them run the risk of being killed or injured.

Literally, they’re in the way of “harm”, blocking the way of bullets and cannon shells.

The “harm” in “harm’s way” can be anything daunting and harmful.

For example, imagine someone throwing themselves in front a running train.

Don’t imagine that.

I mean, it’s a horrible imagery, but you’ve got the picture.

The point is, when you see “harm” coming, step out of the way. Do not stay in its way. For example, jaywalkers in the city are putting themselves in harm’s way every day, by crossing the road without bothering about traffic lights or approaching cars or trucks.

“In harm’s way” the idiom is American in origin, according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Allusion by Elizabeth Webber and Mike Feinsilber:

The phrase comes from America’s Revolutionary War naval hero, John Paul Jones. In a letter dated November 16, 1778, he wrote, “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail FAST; for I intend to go in harm’s way.”

All right, here are recent media examples of people putting themselves in harm’s way or being put there:

1. President Donald Trump said US forces will “finish the job” in Iran soon as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion”, offering a full-throated defence of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago.

Trump gained a wide audience and a chance to articulate clear objectives for the war after weeks of changing goals and often contradictory messages about whether he is winding down or ready to escalate military operations – even as Iran kept up its attacks on Israel and Persian Gulf neighbours and air strikes pounded Tehran.

But he spent much of his time repeating some of the same points he made in recent weeks, while also suggesting that the US was close to meeting its major military objectives in Iran and reiterating his estimated timeline for concluding operations within two to three weeks. He promised US forces would continue to hit Iran very hard.

...

In a social media post earlier Wednesday, Trump maintained a belligerent tone, demanding that Iran stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz – the waterway vital to global oil supplies – or the US would bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages”. The president also said the US “will not have anything to do with” ensuring the security of ships passing through Hormuz, an apparent backtrack from a previous threat to attack Iran’s power grid if it did not open the strait by April 6.

At the same Easter lunch, the president reiterated complaints about NATO allies for their reluctance to secure the Strait of Hormuz, while suggesting that China, Japan and South Korea could also step up.

“Let South Korea, you know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm’s way over there, right next to a nuclear force – let South Korea do it,” Trump said.

- Trump pledges to ‘finish the job’ in Iran in national address but offers no exit plan, France24.com, April 2, 2026.

2. Former US PGA champion Jason Day says Tiger Woods was “a little bit selfish” and “put other people in harm’s way” after the American great was charged with driving under the influence.

Woods, 50, was arrested and charged after clipping a truck and rolling his car near his home in Florida last month.

The 15-time major champion, who was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, was found with two white pills in his pocket, which were identified as hydrocodone – an opioid used to treat pain.

He submitted a written plea of not guilty via his lawyers last week and was granted permission by a judge to seek treatment overseas.

While Australian Day criticised Woods’ actions, the 38-year-old said he also has sympathy for him.

“He was my hero – he is my hero,” said Day, who is preparing to take part in the Masters, which starts on Thursday.

“The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger.

“It’s hard to see him go through what he’s going through, and especially under the microscope... it must be hard to be who he is and have everything, everyone look on, kind of down on him.

“The only thing that I don’t understand is that it’s a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm’s way, as well.

“But when you’re the player that he was and how strong-willed he is, he thinks he can do almost anything.”

In the arrest affidavit, an officer wrote Woods was “sweating profusely”, his pupils were “extremely dilated” and his movements were “lethargic and slow”.

- Selfish Woods put others in harm’s way – Day, BBC.com, April 7, 2026.

3. Billionaire Ken Griffin says being New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s poster boy for a tax-the-rich campaign put his life in danger.

Mamdani began taking on Griffin during his campaign for mayor. To Griffin, it became personal when Mamdani posted a video that not only attacked him, but included where he lived.

“What really upset me about the video was the fact that he put me in harm’s way,” Griffin said in an interview on CNBC.

Griffin brought up the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

"You know, he seems to have forgotten that the CEO of another American company was assassinated just blocks from where I live in New York. And to put any citizen in harm’s way is just inappropriate for one of our political leaders,” Griffin said.

Griffin has made no secret of his unhappiness with Mamdani and his efforts to make him the poster boy for the need to tax the rich and the second homes of people who don’t live in the city fulltime.

“To turn me into a political puppet is just in poor taste, really poor taste,” Griffin said. “The tax itself is a tax that discriminates against a narrow group of people is also disconcerting. You know, our company’s thinking about making a $6 billion investment in New York City ... are they going to now have a special tax rate for those that own office buildings who live out of state? Like, where’s this stop in New York?”

Mamdani did not address Griffin’s concerns about his safety. A spokesperson for the mayor responded to Griffin’s remarks.

“Mayor Mamdani wants all New Yorkers to succeed. That includes business owners and entrepreneurs who create good-paying jobs and make this city the economic engine of America. It also includes Ken Griffin, who is a major employer in our City and a powerful figure in our economy,” the spokesperson said. “If we want this city to become a place that working people can afford, we need meaningful tax reform that includes the wealthiest New Yorkers contributing their fair share.”

What’s left to be seen is whether the $6 billion project Griffin mentioned will go forward or not.

- Billionaire Ken Griffin says NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani “put me in harm’s way”, CBSNews.com, May 6, 2026.

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About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.

（作者：张欣）