give a damn

G g

Definitions of give a damn words

verb with object give a damn to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal. 1
verb with object give a damn to condemn as a failure: to damn a play. 1
verb with object give a damn to bring condemnation upon; ruin. 1
verb with object give a damn to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell. 1
verb with object give a damn to swear at or curse, using the word “damn”: Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead! 1
verb without object give a damn to use the word “damn”; swear. 1

before 1250

One of the 11% oldest English words

1250-1300; Middle English dam(p)nen < Old French dam(p)ner < Latin damnāre to condemn, derivative of damnum damage, fine, harm

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer