Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'don't give/care a rap for,' denoting something worthless or uninteresting.
The phrase “don’t give/care a rap for” is an idiomatic expression signifying that something is considered worthless or of no interest to the speaker. It conveys a dismissive attitude towards the subject in question, suggesting a lack of concern or value attributed to it.
The term “rap” in this expression refers to a base halfpenny, a coin of negligible value that circulated in Ireland during the early eighteenth century. Due to the scarcity of small coins at that time, counterfeits known as “raps” were commonly used. Jonathan Swift, in his Drapier’s Letters (1724), noted the prevalence of these counterfeit coins: “Copper halfpence or farthings… have been for some time very scarce and many counterfeits passed about under the name of raps.” Consequently, the term “rap” came to denote anything of little worth. By the early nineteenth century, this usage was well established, as evidenced by W. H. Ainsworth’s Rookwood (1834): “For the mare-with-three-legs [i.e., the gallows] I care not a rap.”
Semantically, the phrase “don’t give/care a rap for” implies a strong sense of indifference or disdain. It is often employed to express a lack of emotional investment or interest in a particular subject, emphasizing its perceived insignificance. The expression can be used in both personal and broader societal contexts to denote disregard or undervaluation.
In contemporary culture, “don’t give/care a rap for” is frequently used in both spoken and written discourse to convey a dismissive attitude. It appears in literature, film, and everyday conversation, often employed for rhetorical effect to underscore the speaker’s indifference. For example, a character in a novel might declare, “I don’t give a rap for what others think,” to assert independence or defiance.
In professional settings, the phrase might be used to express a lack of concern for trivial matters, while in social contexts, it often conveys personal disinterest or disregard. In literary contexts, it may be employed to characterize a figure’s nonchalance or detachment.
The phrase “don’t give/care a rap for” retains moderate contemporary relevance, particularly in informal discourse. Its durability is rated at ★★★☆☆, reflecting its continued but somewhat niche usage in modern language.
“For the mare-with-three-legs [i.e., the gallows] I care not a rap.” - W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood (1834)