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damage control

DAM-ij kun-TROHL /ˈdæmɪdʒ kənˈtroʊl/

nounC1TOEFLIELTS

neutralbusiness

Actions taken to minimize the negative effects of an undesirable event or situation.

Damage control is a reactive measure, often employed after a negative event has occurred, to limit the harm to reputation, public trust, or financial standing. It's a subset of crisis management.

The story behind the word. The term 'damage control' originated in naval contexts, referring to the measures taken to limit the damage to a ship after it has been hit in battle or suffered an accident, such as containing fires or patching holes. It entered general usage, particularly in politics and business, in the mid-20th century to describe similar efforts to limit reputational or financial harm.

Word relationships

mitigation: The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
containment: The action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits.
remediation: The action of remedying something, especially the reversal of environmental damage.

escalation: An increase in the intensity or seriousness of something.
neglect: Failure to properly care for something, leading to further harm.

Commonly confused with

crisis management: Crisis management is the broader strategy for dealing with a crisis; damage control is the specific actions taken to lessen the negative impact after a crisis has occurred.

Word family

damage (noun): physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something
control (noun): the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events

Collocations

go into damage control
damage control efforts
political damage control
public relations damage control

Example sentences

"After the leaked emails, the senator's team immediately went into damage control mode, issuing apologies and explanations." Referring to a political scandal.
"The company's swift announcement of a full investigation was a crucial step in damage control following the safety incident." Discussing a company's response.

Memory hook

Think of a ship taking 'damage' and the crew working to 'control' the leaks and fires, preventing it from sinking. Ship leaks control

When not to use

Do not use 'damage control' for preventative measures. It specifically refers to actions taken after something bad has happened.

Fun facts

The phrase 'damage control' became widely used in the media during the Watergate scandal in the 1970s.
In sports, 'damage control' might refer to a team trying to minimize the score difference when they are clearly losing.

Related words

crisis management, reputation, spin

Explore more words

Countermeasure, mitigate, reactive, remediation, remedy, safeguard