(not) give a fig
(redirected from gave a fig)(not) give a fig
slang To (not) be concerned about someone or something. Most commonly used in negative constructions. I don't give a fig about making money, I just want to do something with my life that makes life better for others. I haven't given a fig for the show ever since they killed off my favorite character. Do whatever you want, I don't give a fig.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
not give (or care) a fig
not have the slightest concern about.Fig was formerly used in a variety of expressions to signify something regarded as valueless or contemptible.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
fig, not care/give/worth a
See not care/give a fig.
not care/give/worth a fig, to
Not care at all, not give a damn. Fig has denoted something worthless since about 1400. Moreover, in Mediterranean countries the sign of the fig is an obscene gesture, made by clenching one’s fist and pushing the thumb between the first and middle fingers. According to John Ciardi, the thumb represents the penis, the fingers the labia, and the gesture means “Fuck you.” Dante so used it in the Inferno section of The Divine Comedy. Centuries later, however, the phrase’s obscene provenance began to be largely ignored, and the cliché survives.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
- (not) know jack (about someone or something)
- (not) know jack all (about someone or something)
- (not) know jack shit (about someone or something)
- perceive
- perceive (someone or something) as (something)
- perceive as
- preclude
- preclude (someone or something) from (something)
- preclude from
- be half the person/man/woman (that) (someone) is