doit
Definition
- Noun:
- A very small amount of money: "doit" refers to a negligible or trivial sum of money, historically a small Dutch coin.
- A trivial or insignificant thing: Used figuratively to denote something of little or no value or importance.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He didn't care a doit about the consequences. (He did not care at all, even about the smallest possible amount.)
- She wouldn't give a doit for his opinion. (She considered his opinion worthless.)
- The old coin was worth only a doit in modern currency. (The coin had extremely minimal value.)
Advanced Usage
"not worth a doit": utterly worthless or insignificant.
- His promise is not worth a doit. (His promise has no value or credibility.)
"don't care a doit": to not care at all.
- I don't care a doit what they think. (I am completely indifferent to their opinion.)
Variants and Related Words
- Doit (n): In historical contexts, a small Dutch copper coin, equivalent to about half an English farthing.
- Doitkin (n): A diminutive form of "doit," sometimes used in archaic or humorous speech to mean a tiny coin or trifle.
Synonyms
- Trifle: a thing of little value or importance.
- Whit: a very small part or amount (e.g., "not a whit").
- Jot: a tiny amount (e.g., "not a jot").
- Farthing: a former British coin of minimal value; used similarly in expressions of insignificance.
Related Idioms
Not a doit: not even the smallest amount.
- He hasn't paid a doit of his debt. (He hasn't paid anything at all.)
Care a doit: to care even a little (usually in the negative).
- She doesn't care a doit about the rules. (She is completely indifferent to the rules.)