flying fig

1 9.6

A thing that is not important or worth worrying about

noun

Archaic

: cosa sin importancia

Markets don't give a flying fig about any of this nonsense.
give a flying fig

Examples

You think they give a flying fig what I want?
Whether it rains or shines tomorrow is a flying fig to me.
He didn't give a flying fig about the criticism he received at work.
The manager made it clear that their complaints weren't worth a flying fig.
That's just a flying fig to me.
He thinks his opinion matters, but it's really a flying fig.
Oh, who gives a flying fig?

Synonyms

mere trifle

vsflying fig

1 4.0

A small thing that is not important

is a colourful informal phrase used to dismiss importance

bagatelle

vsflying fig

Literature

1 9.9

A small unimportant thing not worth worrying about

is a casual idiomatic expression rather than a literary label

fribble

vsflying fig

Archaic

9.9

A small unimportant thing you do not need

is a stronger dismissive idiom used to show no concern

Antonyms

to matter

∞ 1.4

To be important or make a difference

How Important

minor detail

6 3.2

flying fig

Archaic

1 9.6

trifle

18 4.6

Surface Forms

flying fig singular

flying figs plural

Morphology

flying + fig

The meaning 'something completely unimportant' cannot be derived from the literal constituents 'flying' (moving through the air) and 'fig' (a fruit); there is no obvious compositional logic linking those meanings to insignificance. Although English has idioms with "fig" (e.g. "not give a fig"), understanding this phrase depends on idiomatic knowledge rather than predictable composition, so a B1 learner who only knows the literal words would not infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The idiom flying fig may come from the idea that a fig is a small, common fruit and that a flying fig would be lost or useless. So, it means 'completely unimportant'.