give a hoot
Show any concern
Give a hoot means to care about something, almost always used in the negative: I don't give a hoot what they think.
The hoot suggests something trivial—the noise an owl makes, worth nothing.
Variants include give two hoots and the emphatic give a hoot in hell.
The phrase is mild and slightly old-fashioned, a gentler alternative to give a damn.
- concernTroubled interest in something
- couldn't be botheredUnwilling to make effort
- pay no mindTo deliberately ignore
- be botheredFeel inclined to act
- careAttentive regard for others
shrug it off · mind · interest · worry · indifferent · bat an eye · consideration · slogan · Woodsy Owl · disdain · fuss · invested · nonchalant · passionate · matter · screech · forest · attention
caring/concern
give a hootnot give a damn
couldn't care less · apathy · indifference · shrug off · turn a blind eye
give, gift, given, giving, hoot, giver, gave, gives, hooters