tinker's dam: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “tinker's dam” mean?
Something of negligible value or importance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something of negligible value or importance; often used negatively (e.g., 'not worth a tinker's dam').
A phrase used to dismiss something as worthless or insignificant; historically refers to a small dam of bread or clay used by tinkers (itinerant menders of metal utensils) to hold solder, which was discarded after use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase is extremely rare in modern British English. In American English, it is also rare but persists in historical or regional usage, often as 'tinker's damn.'
Connotations
Archaic and folksy in both varieties.
Frequency
Virtually obsolete in contemporary speech in both UK and US; encountered primarily in historical texts, older literature, or deliberate archaisms.
Grammar
How to Use “tinker's dam” in a Sentence
[Subject] + [negated verb] + worth + a tinker's damVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or folklore studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound deliberately quaint or archaic.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tinker's dam”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tinker's dam”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tinker's dam”
- Misspelling as 'tinker's damn' when referring to the historical object.
- Using it in positive constructions (e.g., 'It's a tinker's dam').
- Using it in modern, formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, 'tinker's dam' refers to the small, worthless dam used in soldering. 'Tinker's damn' is a later, more common variant, often perceived as a mild oath or euphemism.
No, it is considered archaic. You might encounter it in historical novels, films, or from older speakers, but it is not part of modern active vocabulary.
It functions as a noun, specifically in a noun phrase, almost exclusively within the idiom 'not worth a tinker's dam'.
No. Its register is informal and archaic. Using it in formal contexts would be inappropriate and confusing.
Something of negligible value or importance.
Tinker's dam: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɪŋkəz dæm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɪŋkərz dæm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth a tinker's dam”
- “not give/care a tinker's dam”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a travelling tinker making a tiny, temporary DAM of bread to hold solder. Once used, it's thrown away — utterly worthless.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTHLESSNESS IS A DISCARDED TOOL.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of the phrase 'not worth a tinker's dam'?