give a fig en · VERB
Meanings
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(euphemistic, informal, negative) To care what someone else thinks or does, particularly in relation to what they think or say about the speaker.
The railroads owned by U.S. Steel have never given a fig for prestige so long as their owner's ore was hauled to the mills economically.
1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 28:For Corinius, who gave not a fig for music or dirges, but liked well of carding and dicing, had brought forth his dice box to play with the son of Corund.
1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 32:I couldn’t give a fig!
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gave a fig | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| given a fig | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| giving a fig | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| gives a fig | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Synonyms
becare · bother · care · trouble oneself · heed · concern oneself · reck · worry · mind