noun
something of little value
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his promise is not worth a damn
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not worth one red cent
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not worth shucks
• Syn:
• Hypernyms: ↑worthlessness, ↑ineptitude
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noun or tinker's damEtymology: 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
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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, tinker's dam.
[1830-40; from tinkers' alleged habit of cursing frequently (hence weakening the force of a curse)]
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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.