*Frankly, My Dear...

Huh. So I have this little book that purports to explain common phrases. I flip through it now and then, and this one caught my eye:

"Don't give a damn."

Now what explanation would they have for that? I mean, it seems fairly self-explanatory...derived from damnation and the Bible and whatnot.

Apparently not.

According to this book, not giving a damn refers to a Hindu coin called a "damn." The value of this coin fluctuated greatly in India, and when it was at its lowest value British soldiers used its name to describe valueless items or facts. The phrase stuck.

Posted by Jennifer at September 26, 2003 12:18 PM

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