give a damn

English

Alternative forms

• (euphemistic) give a darn
• care a damn

Verb

give a damn (third-person singular simple present gives a damn, present participle giving a damn, simple past gave a damn, past participle given a damn)

1. (sometimes vulgar, chiefly in the negative, idiomatic, informal) To be concerned about, have an interest in, to care (about something).

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:care

   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?

   • 1939 December 15, Sidney Howard, Gone with the Wind, spoken by Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), Selznick International Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer:

     Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

   • 1970, “Cherrystones”, in Outlaw, performed by Eugene McDaniels:

     Long as I have my clams I don't give a damn about revolution

   • 1980, Gerald Ford, “Boyhood—and Beyond”, in A Time to Heal‎, New York: Berkley Books, →ISBN, page 47:

     My stepfather loved me as much as he loved his own three sons. I knew how much he wanted to help me and how lacking in financial resources he was. Nothing could erase the image I gained of my real father that day: a carefree, well-to-do man who didn't really give a damn about the hopes and dreams of his firstborn son.

   • 1991 May 7, Travis Tritt (lyrics and music), “Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)”, in It's All About to Change, performed by Travis Tritt:

     Call someone who'll listen and might give a damn
     Maybe one of your sordid affairs
     But don't you come 'round here handin' me none of your lies
     Here's a quarter, call someone who cares

   • 1994 November 15, “Ode to My Family”, in Dolores O'Riordan (lyrics), Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan (music), No Need to Argue, performed by Dolores O'Riordan:

     Unhappiness where's when I was young / And we didn't give a damn

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:give a damn.

Translations

to be concerned about — see give a shit