damn (redirected from damning with faint praise)

damn someone or something with faint praise

Fig. to criticize someone or something indirectly by not praising enthusiastically. The critic did not say that he disliked the play, but he damned it with faint praise. Mrs. Brown is very proud of her son's achievements, but damns her daughter's with faint praise.

See also: faint, praise

damn someone with something 

1. Lit. to curse someone with words. She damned him with curse after curse. Maria damned Joe with the worst curses she could think of.

2. Fig. to denounce or defeat someone in a particular way. She damned him with her insincere words of praise. She damned herself with the evidence she had hoped would save her.

Damn it to blue blazes!

Rur. Damn it. (An oath.) Damn it to blue blazes, I told you I can't lend you any more money! "Damn it to blue blazes! I give up!" Joe shouted, flinging his tools aside.

See also: blue

Hot damn!

Inf. Wow!; Hooray! (An exclamation of surprise and delight.) Hot damn! I just won a vacation trip to Florida!

See also: hot

not give a tinker's damn

Fig. not to care at all. (A tinker's damn or dam may be a worthless curse from a tinker or a small dam or barrier used to contain molten metal.) I don't give a tinker's damn whether you go or not!

See also: give

not worth a damn

Inf. worthless. This pen is not worth a damn. When it comes to keeping score, she's not worth a damn.

See also: worth

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not give a damn  (informal)

to not be interested in or worried about something or someone He can think what he likes. I don't give a damn. (often + about ) Most companies don't give a damn about the environment. (often + question word) I've made my decision and I don't give a damn what they think.

See also: give

not give a tinker's cuss  (British & Australian old-fashioned) also not give a tinker's damn (American old-fashioned)

to not be interested in or worried about something or someone (often + question word) I don't give a tinker's cuss what she thinks, I'll do what I want! He's never given a tinker's damn for me, or for any of the family.

See also: cuss, give

damn somebody/something with faint praise

to praise something or someone in such a weak way that it is obvious you do not really admire them She damned Reynolds with faint praise, calling him one of the best imitators in the world.

See also: faint, praise

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damn (somebody/something) with faint praise

to show only slight approval for someone or something By qualifying his support, you could argue he was damning these leaders with faint praise. Maybe I'm damning them with faint praise, but the Yankees are easier to like than the Atlanta Braves in this series.

See also: faint, praise

damn it (slang) also God damn it

this is very annoying No, damn it, you wait a minute. I was thinking, God damn it, the man said he'd write, so why doesn't he send me a letter?

Usage notes: sometimes spelled dammit: But, dammit, what did she expect me to do?

give a damn (about somebody/something) (slang)

to be interested or involved He sent his son to parochial school because he believes that those schools give a damn.

Usage notes: also used with verbs like could and might to mean someone is not concerned about something: A significant portion of kids in class could give a damn.

See also: give

not give a damn (about somebody/something) (slang) also not give a tinker's damn (about somebody/something)

to not be interested in someone or something not give a shit (about somebody/something) The beginning was so boring, I really didn't give a damn what happened in the rest of the movie. We didn't give a tinker's damn about justice.

Usage notes: although always suggesting a negative meaning, sometimes used without not: Who really gives a damn about the details?

See also: give

worth a damn (slang) also worth a tinker's damn

to have value Kids in this city aren't getting an education that's worth a damn. I haven't asked enough people for my research to be worth a tinker's damn, but everyone I've talked to thinks it's a good idea.

See also: worth