damn
to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal.
to condemn as a failure: to damn a play.
to bring condemnation upon; ruin.
to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell.
to swear at or curse, using the word “damn”: Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!
to use the word “damn”; swear.
(used as an expletive to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.)
the utterance of “damn” in swearing or for emphasis.
something of negligible value: not worth a damn.
Idioms about damn
damn well, Informal. damned (def. 7).
damn with faint praise, to praise so moderately as, in effect, to condemn: The critic damned the opera with faint praise when he termed the production adequate.
give a damn, Informal. to care; be concerned; consider as important: You shouldn't give a damn about their opinions.: Also give a darn.
Origin of damn
1Other words for damn
Other words from damn
- damner, noun
- pre·damn, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for damn
/ (dæm) /
slang an exclamation of annoyance (often in exclamatory phrases such as damn it! damn you! etc)
informal an exclamation of surprise or pleasure (esp in the exclamatory phrase damn me!)
(prenominal) slang deserving damnation; detestable
slang (intensifier): damn fool; a damn good pianist
damn all slang absolutely nothing
to condemn as bad, worthless, etc
to curse
to condemn to eternal damnation
(often passive) to doom to ruin; cause to fail: the venture was damned from the start
(also intr) to prove (someone) guilty: damning evidence
to swear (at) using the word damn
as near as damn it British informal as near as possible; very near
damn with faint praise to praise so unenthusiastically that the effect is condemnation
slang something of negligible value; jot (esp in the phrase not worth a damn)
not give a damn informal to be unconcerned; not care
Origin of damn
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with damn
In addition to the idioms beginning with damn
- damned if I do, damned if I don't
- damn well
- damn with faint praise
also see:
- do one's damnedest
- give a damn
- not worth a dime (tinker's damn)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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