tinker's dam
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - Something of little or no value; a negligible amount: The phrase "tinker's dam" refers to something utterly worthless or insignificant. It is used to express that something has no value or importance.
Usage
- The term is used in negative constructions, most commonly in the pattern "not worth a tinker's dam," to emphatically state that something is worthless.
- It is a somewhat dated or proverbial expression.
Examples
- Noun:
- His opinion on the matter isn't worth a tinker's dam. (His opinion is completely worthless.)
- They argued that the old contract was not worth a tinker's dam and needed to be rewritten from scratch. (The old contract was considered completely without value.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often seen in its variant form "not worth a tinker's damn." The terms "dam" and "damn" are used interchangeably in this idiom, with "damn" being more common in modern usage.
- It functions as a strong intensifier of worthlessness, similar to other idioms like "not worth a plugged nickel" or "not worth beans."
Variants and Related Words
- Tinker's damn (n): The more frequent variant of the phrase, identical in meaning.
- I wouldn't give a tinker's damn for his advice.
- Not worth a damn (idiom): A more general and common idiom meaning "completely worthless."
- This broken tool isn't worth a damn.
Synonyms
- Trifle: Something of little value or importance.
- Bauble: A small, showy trinket or decoration of little value.
- Triviality: The quality or state of being unimportant.
Related Idioms
- Not worth a red cent: Having no monetary value whatsoever.
- That counterfeit bill is not worth a red cent.
- Not worth shucks: (Informal) Worthless or of very poor quality.
- His apology wasn't worth shucks.
- Not worth a hill of beans: Having very little value or importance.
- Her promise turned out not to be worth a hill of beans.
Noun
- something of little value
- his promise is not worth a damn
- not worth one red cent
- not worth shucks