care for (someone or something)
1. To act as a caretaker for someone or something. We need to hire a nurse to care for Grandpa when he gets out of the hospital. Judging by the overgrown weeds and broken shutters, no one has been caring for this house. After our parents died, I became the one to care for my siblings.
2. To have a strong feeling of love or affection for someone or something; to cherish someone or something. There is nothing I care for more than my children. Yeah, I loved that doll when I was three, but I don't care for it anymore, so feel free to sell it at the garage sale. I do care for Bryan! I don't want to break up, but I just don't think our relationship is going anywhere.
3. To like someone or something. Often used in the negative to mean the opposite. I know you don't care for asparagus, so I made string beans instead. A: "Heather's going to be there? Ugh, I don't really care for her." B: "Yeah, she always struck me as a gossip." I don't really care for bananas—that mushy texture just grosses me out.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
care for someone or something
to take care of someone or something. Will you care for my cat while I am away? I would be happy to care for your child.
care for someone
to feel tenderly toward someone; to love someone. I care for you a great deal, Walter. I care for you too, Alice.
care for something
to like the taste of some kind of food or drink. (Usually used with a negative.) I don't care for sweet potatoes. I don't care for sweet desserts.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.