Common Catch Phrases #1

Don't Give a Damn

Damn is a word with several meanings, however, unlike many emphatic terms, it is not a vulgarism. When used emphatically, it alludes to an old Hindu coin that was used exclusively in India. The value of this coin fluctuated greatly throughout the centuries: It reached a high of 1/40 of a rupee and a low of 1/1000 of a rupee. When the damn was at its lowest, British troopers - being aware of its incredibly low value - used its name to describe worthless things or facts. The saying has become the leader of forceful speech wherever English is spoken, arguably because it has an in-your-face attribute attached to the phrase when it is spoken.

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REFERENCES: The above description is paraphrased from the book "Common Phrases and Where They Come From", Myron Korach & John B. Mordock, 2001,The Lyons Press, Page 35.