not worth a tinker's dam

not worth a tinker's dam
Not worth a tinker's dam
This means that something is worthless and dates back to when someone would travel around the countryside repairing things such as a kitchen pot with a hole in it. He was called a 'tinker'. His dam was used to stop the flow of soldering material being used to close the hole. Of course his 'trade' is passé, thus his dam is worth nothing.

The small dictionary of idiomes. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • not\ worth\ a\ tinker's\ dam — • not worth a tinker s dam • not worth a tinker s damn adj. phr. informal Not worth anything; valueless. As a bricklayer he was not worth a tinker s damn. I am not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker s dam …   Словарь американских идиом

  • not\ worth\ a\ tinker's\ damn — • not worth a tinker s dam • not worth a tinker s damn adj. phr. informal Not worth anything; valueless. As a bricklayer he was not worth a tinker s damn. I am not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker s dam …   Словарь американских идиом

  • not worth a tinker's damn — or not[worth a tinker s dam] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not worth anything; valueless. * /As a bricklayer he was not worth a tinker s damn./ * /I am not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker s dam./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • not worth a tinker's damn — or not[worth a tinker s dam] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not worth anything; valueless. * /As a bricklayer he was not worth a tinker s damn./ * /I am not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker s dam./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • not worth a tinker's dam — Meaning Worthless. Origin Dams are the small amounts of solder used to repair pewter ware …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • tinker's dam — noun something of little value his promise is not worth a damn not worth one red cent not worth shucks • Syn: ↑damn, ↑darn, ↑hoot, ↑red cent, ↑shit, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • tinker's damn — or tinker s dam n. [< TINKER + DAMN: with reference to the lowly status and reputed profane speech of tinkers] something of no value: now chiefly in the phrase not worth a tinker s damn …   English World dictionary

  • tinker's damn — noun something of little value his promise is not worth a damn not worth one red cent not worth shucks • Syn: ↑damn, ↑darn, ↑hoot, ↑red cent, ↑shit, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • tinker's damn — 1. the least value or merit; nothing or anything at all: It s not worth a tinker s damn. 2. care or give a tinker s damn, to have or feel little or no concern; be unaffected or unmoved: I don t care a tinker s damn for their opinions. Also,… …   Universalium

  • tinker'sdamn — tin·ker s damn also tin·ker s dam (tĭngʹkərz) n. Slang The smallest degree or amount: property that is not worth a tinker s damn.   [Probably from the reputation of tinkers for cursing.] * * * …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”