English Phrase of the Day

give a damn

Definitions

English > English
give a damn
1. v. (sometimes vulgar, chiefly in the negative) To be concerned about, have an interest in, to care (about something).
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
He doesn't give a damn about your child's painting, he's just interested in the gold frame.
If she actually gave a damn what the law said, she wouldn't have stolen the car in the first place, now would she?
Analysis
give
1. v. (ditransitive) To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.
2. v. To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).
I gave him my coat.
I gave my coat to the beggar.
When they asked, I gave my coat.
a
1. art. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group.
There was a man here looking for you yesterday.
2. art. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word.
I've seen it happen a hundred times.
3. art. One certain or particular; any single.Brown, Lesley, (2003)
damn
1. v. (theology, transitive, intransitive) To condemn to hell.
The official position is that anyone who does this will be damned for all eternity.
Only God can damn. — I damn you eternally, fiend!
2. v. To condemn; to declare guilty; to doom; to adjudge to punishment.
3. v. To put out of favor; to ruin; to label negatively.

Do politicians really give a damn?

I don't give a damn about it anymore, I'm getting too old for this!

I think you better just get used to the fact that I'm not going to give a damn to all your little snips and insults.

I don't give a damn about their internal squabbles!

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