In 2005 American Film Institute voted Clark Gable’s line, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” as the number 1 movie quote. Of course we all know these immortal words are from the 1939 film Gone with the Wind.
Did you ever wonder where the term “I don’t give a damn” came from? And what is a damn anyway? Why wouldn’t I give one?
Here’s a hint, some parts of the world actually say, “I don’t give a tinker’s damn.”
A tinker was a handyman that would repair pot, pan and general household items back before we would just throw them away. A tinker’s dam was usually a piece of dough, paper, clay or whatever that was used to block a whole while the solder was applied. It would then be discarded as something inconsequential.
Thus, you care so little about something you wouldn’t give something worthless over it or you wouldn’t even give a tinker’s dam.
Oh yeah, while we are on the subject the proper phrase is “I couldn’t care less” not “I could care less”
If you could care less that implies that you care in the first place, if you couldn’t care less it means that you already care so little you couldn’t possibly care any less- get it right!