Not Give a Fig
When you truly could not care less 🎋
Definition:
To express extreme indifference or a total lack of concern. If you “don’t give a fig,” you simply don’t care.
Synonyms:
- Not give a damn
- Not give a hoot
- Not give a toss
- Couldn’t care less
- Unconcerned
- Indifferent
Antonyms:
- Deeply concerned
- Very interested
- Passionate
Humor-filled Quote:
“I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure. As for giving a fig, well, that depends on the price of figs today.”
Similar Terms and Idioms:
- “Not worth a fig”
- “Not give a farthing”
- “Couldn’t care less” (A slight nuance here: Remember to use “couldn’t” if you want to be grammatically accurate. Using “could” is like saying the exact opposite of what you mean!)
- “Not give two hoots”
- “Couldn’t give a monkey’s”
Historical and Cultural Tidbits:
Fig has symbolized something worthless since about 1400. Additionally, in Mediterranean countries, the sign of the fig is an obscene gesture involving one’s fist - it sends the clear message “Fuck you.” Dante used it in the Inferno section of The Divine Comedy. Centuries later, the phrase began to lose its obscene implications, moving on to signify a mild indifference instead.
Related Proverbs:
“To disregard with the speed of ignoring a fig” – An ancient (well, fictitious) saying emphasizing a rapid dismissal of concern.
Recommended Books and Literature:
- The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri: Get the whole package, including the fig gesture in Inferno.
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson: A modern manual on efficiently not giving any figs.
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: Experience the extreme version of withering indifference - it’s the entire society not giving a fig about books.
Songs and Poetry:
- Song: “Don’t Care” by Amy’s Ashes - because it’s all in the title.
- Poetry: “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot. Dive deep into this modernist poem, where figs symbolize neglect and deterioration among other rich images.
Movies:
- Office Space: A cult classic that demonstrates a societal lack of figs given about corporate monotony and the crushing grind.
Thank you for exploring how not to care with us! Remember, it’s wise to choose your moments of indifference carefully. Keep loving language, and maybe save a few figs for when it really matters.
—Imaginary Inkblot, October 2023
