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Glite Dictionary
to give a hang

to give a hang

9.3
To not care at all about something, used only in negative sentences
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : importar
  • I don't give a hang about what they think!

Examples

  • He acts as if he doesn't give a hang about his reputation.

  • She never gave a hang about following the latest trends.

  • I don't give a hang what they say about me.

  • Do you really give a hang about the outcome?

  • He acts as if he doesn't give a hang about his reputation.

  • I don't give a hang what they say about me.

  • She never gave a hang about following the latest trends.

Synonyms

to give a damn
vsto give a hang
  • NSFW
172 8.8

To not care at all about someone or something

is always used negatively and is slightly more neutral in tone
to give a hoot
vsto give a hang
  • Archaic
9 8.1

To not care at all about something

is the always-negative expression that stresses complete indifference
to give a rat
vsto give a hang
  • Slang
9 9.9

To care at all about something

is always negative and stresses indifference more directly
to give a rip
vsto give a hang
  • Slang
2 9.5

To not care at all about something

is always used negatively and can sound a bit more emphatic
to give a rat's arse
vsto give a hang
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To not care at all about something

is the same always-negative idea but in more neutral phrasing
to care a hang
vsto give a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To feel no interest or worry at all about something

is the alternative phrasing with the same always-negative usage
to give a flying shit
vsto give a hang
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To say in rude language that someone does not care at all

keeps the always-negative meaning but without strong vulgarity
to give a monkey's
vsto give a hang
  • Slang
1 9.9

To not care at all about something, usually in negative sentences

is always negative and slightly more neutral than this informal form
to care a pin
vsto give a hang
  • Archaic
9.9

To not mind something at all

is always negative and focuses more on total lack of concern
to give a sneck posset
vsto give a hang
  • Archaic
9.9

Not care at all about something

is the modern always-negative form rather than the archaic expression

How Concerned

to care
∞ 1.0
to give a damn
  • NSFW
172 8.8
to give a hoot
  • Archaic
9 8.1
to give a hang
  • Archaic
9.3
to could care less
  • Informal
1 9.1

Surface Forms

give a hang infinitive
giving a hang present participle
gives a hang third person singular
gave a hang past
given a hang past participle

Morphology

give + a + hang

The sense 'to care at all' (in negative contexts) is not compositionally derivable from 'give' + 'hang' because 'hang' does not independently mean 'care' and the construction is an idiomatic negative emphatic (like 'give a damn'). This usage is language-specific and unpredictable for a learner who only knows the literal meanings of the constituents.

Etymology

Give a hang may come from the idea of a hang as a very small, worthless thing you might hang on a hook. One popular story says people meant they would not even give that tiny bit, so if you don't give a hang you do not 'care at all'.