tinker's damn

tinker's damn
noun
something of little value
-

his promise is not worth a damn

-

not worth one red cent

-

not worth shucks

• Syn:
↑damn, ↑darn, ↑hoot, ↑red cent, ↑shit, ↑shucks, ↑tinker's dam
• Derivationally related forms: ↑shitty (for: ↑shit)
• Hypernyms: ↑worthlessness, ↑ineptitude

* * *

noun or tinker's dam
Etymology: tinker's damn probably so called from the tinkers' reputation for blasphemy; tinker's dam probably by folk etymology from tinker's damn; probably from the use by tinkers of a small dam of dough or mud to confine solder used in patching holes in pans
: something absolutely worthless

people who didn't give a tinker's damn about poetry were … interested — James Blish

pointed out a federal system isn't worth a tinker's damn — H.J.Laski

is too involved … to make us care a tinker's dam what happens — R.B.Morris

* * *

1. the least value or merit; nothing or anything at all: It's not worth a tinker's damn.
2. care or give a tinker's damn, to have or feel little or no concern; be unaffected or unmoved: I don't care a tinker's damn for their opinions.
[1830-40; from tinkers' alleged habit of cursing frequently (hence weakening the force of a curse)]

* * *

tinker's damn or tinker's dam,
something worthless or useless: »

He doesn't care a tinker's damn what others think.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tinker's damn — or tinker s dam n. [< TINKER + DAMN: with reference to the lowly status and reputed profane speech of tinkers] something of no value: now chiefly in the phrase not worth a tinker s damn …   English World dictionary

  • tinker's damn — 1. the least value or merit; nothing or anything at all: It s not worth a tinker s damn. 2. care or give a tinker s damn, to have or feel little or no concern; be unaffected or unmoved: I don t care a tinker s damn for their opinions. Also,… …   Universalium

  • tinker's damn — tin′ker s damn′ (or dam′) n. cvb the least bit; hoot; damn: not worth a tinker s damn[/ex] • Etymology: 1830–40; from tinkers alleged habit of cursing frequently (hence weakening the force of a curse) …   From formal English to slang

  • tinker's damn — also tinker s dam noun Etymology: probably from the tinkers reputation for blasphemy Date: 1839 a minimum amount or degree (as of care) < didn t give a tinker s damn about poetry James Blish > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tinker's damn — See: NOT WORTH A TINKER S DAMN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • tinker's damn — See: NOT WORTH A TINKER S DAMN …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • tinker's\ damn — See: not worth a tinker s damn …   Словарь американских идиом

  • tinker's damn — noun a worthless amount Syn: tinkers cuss …   Wiktionary

  • not\ worth\ a\ tinker's\ damn — • not worth a tinker s dam • not worth a tinker s damn adj. phr. informal Not worth anything; valueless. As a bricklayer he was not worth a tinker s damn. I am not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker s dam …   Словарь американских идиом

  • not worth a tinker's damn — or not[worth a tinker s dam] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not worth anything; valueless. * /As a bricklayer he was not worth a tinker s damn./ * /I am not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker s dam./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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