PhrasesHub

Tinker's damn

    Definitions

      • little or no value
        To indicate that something is worthless or of little importance

      • indifference
        To express a lack of concern or interest in a particular matter

    Examples of Tinker's damn

    • The old car that the uncle gifted me as a teenager has been a constant source of frustration ever since. Its engine ticks more loudly than Big Ben, its brakes squeal like a pack of excited pups, and it rumbles and groans like an old man climbing stairs. Every time I get behind the wheel, I feel the spirit of Tinker Bell's cursed godfather, Tinker, looming over my shoulder, as if I'm driving a rig salvaged from the scrapyard of the underworld. Sometimes, when I'm stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or when I've been crawling along single-lane roads for hours on end, I swear that I can hear Tinker himself cackling, "Tinker's damn car, ain't it grand?"

      Tinker's damned car is a variation of the idiom Tinker's damn, which originated in the early 1900s and is associated with the Irish folklore character Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell, an old and grumpy fairy, was known for her mischievous pranks and her ability to curse objects under her spell. This curse would turn ordinary objects into dubious, finicky machinery, causing them to malfunction and break down in the most baffling and dangerous ways possible. In this example, the old car has become a victim of Tinker's magically malignant influence, and its poor condition is a manifestation of Tinker's curse.

    • After weeks of tireless efforts, the contractor finally presented me with the invoice for the repairs in the house. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of zeros, for the amount exceeded my most daring financial predictions by a wide margin. "Are you kidding me, Tinker's damn contractor? This is madness!" I exclaimed, unable to control my exasperation, as I reluctantly signed the check.

      Tinker's damned contractor is another variation of the idiom Tinker's damn, which is used in this case to express annoyance and frustration towards a contractor whose services have turned out to be more expensive than anticipated. The underlying idea is that the contractor, as a bearer of the Tinker's curse, has added an unforeseen element of damage and repair to the project, resulting in a significant increase in costs that were not part of the original agreement. This idiom is often used as a hyperbolic exaggeration to communicate displeasure and disbelief.

    • My mother-in-law left us a cake on our anniversary, but it looked like it had been salvaged from the booty of an ancient pirate's treasure chest. The icing was cracked and curdled, the sponge was dry and crumbly, and it smelled like an unkempt sock drawer. "Tinker's damn cake, what a treat!" I exclaimed, as I gingerly picked a piece off the plate, trying hard to hide my grimace.

      Tinker's damned cake is a variation of the idiom Tinker's damn, which is used here to describe a cake that has fallen prey to Tinker's curse, making it look and taste like something repugnant and ill-fated. The cake's imperfections and odor invoke the mischievous Tinker Bell, whose curse has turned the cake into a strange and unappealing delicacy, forcing the eater to take tiny bites while offering silent prayers for the sweet, buttery cakes of yesteryear. This idiom is commonly employed to describe unfortunate incidents involving food and other consumables, which have been afflicted by some malevolent malady.

    • The new software has been causing all sorts of tinker's damn problems with my computer lately.

      This idiom is used to express frustration with a situation or object that, despite constant fixing or adjustment, still seems to be causing persistent problems. In this case, the software is causing so many issues that it feels as though a tinkerer, or someone who continuously repairs and adjusts machines, is damning it with constant complaints and curse words.

    • Every time I try to fix the leaky faucet, it seems to get even worse, like it's cursed by some tinker's damn spell.

      Once again, this idiom is used to express frustration with a persistent problem that seems to defy any attempts at repair. The idea is that, just as a tinker's curse might bring bad luck to a machine, the leaky faucet seems to be cursed in some way, causing further problems with every attempted fix.

    • I've been trying to assemble this new piece of equipment for hours, and it feels like it's been cursed by some tinker's damn jinx.

      This idiom is used to suggest that there is some sort of mystical or unexplainable bad luck attached to the object, causing problems or difficulties that go beyond any logical explanations. The idea is that, just as a tinker's curse might bring bad luck to a machine, this particular piece of equipment seems to be cursed in some way, making it incredibly difficult to assemble.

    • I know I didn't do anything wrong, but this project seems to be cursed by some tinker's damn hex, and everything just keeps going wrong.

      This idiom is used to suggest that, for some unexplained reason, the project has been afflicted by a sort of bad luck or curse, causing difficulties and problems that seem to defy any rational explanation. The idea is that, much like a tinker's curse or hex, this project seems to be cursed, making it incredibly difficult to complete.

    • The mechanic complained that the car's engine was in tinker's damn state after the previous owner neglected regular maintenance.

      This idiom is used when someone describes a situation or object as being in a terrible condition due to neglect, poor quality, or inefficient handling. The phrase "tinker's damn" implies that the person who handled or maintained the object was incompetent or careless.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "Tinker's damn" is used to convey the idea that something is of little value or importance. It can also be used to express indifference towards a particular matter.

    Origin of "Tinker's damn"

    The origin of the idiom "Tinker's damn" dates back to the 19th century, when tinkers were traveling tradesmen who repaired household items such as pots and pans. The word "damn" in this context refers to a small amount of explosive used to break up rocks, which was said to be of little value. Over time, the phrase "Tinker's damn" came to be used figuratively to indicate something of little worth. The idiom has since become a common expression in the English language, used to convey the idea of something being insignificant or unimportant.