OldChinaHand  
Jan 13, 2007
| A curse could be a formula or charm intended to cause such misfortune to another and it can be a profane oath; curse word but I don't think it could be a prayer for misfortune on someone. And a 'tinker dam' is something useless, as in 'I don't give a tinker's dam'.
And as for a tinker's reputation for habitual use of profanity, an urban myth no doubt since profanity would work against them since their customers would most like be housewives and housekeepers.  |
jazzmusician46  
Jan 13, 2007
| China Hand, I'm not really sure what you are trying to say? Clearly, you have cited 'Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)' for your definition of 'curse'. If you check the 'American Heritage Dictionary', you'll find one of the definitions for curse is: "An appeal or prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone or something." As you are no doubt aware, the English language has more than one way of defining a word; we have choices.
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choptlivva 
Jan 14, 2007
| In my "neck of the woods," I have heard the expression, "I don't give a tinker's damn," many times. Based on the context in which the phrase was used, it meant the same thing as "I don't give a damn" as in Rhett Butler's line to Scarlett in 'Gone With the Wind'. In other words, "I don't care."
I live in the Southeastern US, which was settled by many Scottish and Scots-Irish immigrants in the 1800's. It is a mountainous area in which tinkers abounded in those days, so it can be deduced that the use of this phrase in this area was a result of that heritage.
So I am a bit confused how in one instance, the phrase "tinker's curse," is a used AS a curse, and in the next example the phrase is related to an OBJECT used in the the tinker's work, and the word 'damn' which is a synonym for curse, is now a 'dam'.
Very confusing. Perhaps a little more research would explain this dichotomy? |
choptlivva
Jan 14, 2007
| I hope that my use of what is considered to be a curse word, is not found to be unacceptable in this discussion. It was necessary to use it to explain my point in discussing the teaser. I hope I have not offended anyone. |
Sand-Storm
Jan 15, 2007
| Have heard "don't give a tinker's damn"; now after your posts, will do some research. Lived in SE also. |
jazzmusician46
Jan 15, 2007
| Well, I never realised such a simple expression would have created so much discussion. To be honest, I had never heard of a 'tinker's damn' either until the teaser was rejected on the grounds I had not included it in the answer section. One learns something new each day. |
breathesunshine
Jan 17, 2007
| I live in the New England and have also heard "I don't give a tinker's damn". From the definition Jazzmusician gave, I'm assuming it was distorted through the years from tinker's 'dam' to 'damn'. I've never heard of a tinker's curse so never would have gotten this right but it was interesting to read the answer's explanation and the comments. |
adiddie48 
Jan 17, 2007
| This was kool and all but I totally didn't get it. I have never heard that saying before but I will ber sure to remember it. Who knows it miht just come in handy for the future. |
jazzmusician46
Jan 18, 2007
| It is a popular saying in Australia (and I suppose England, but am not sure). I can feel a PhD coming on here...  |
Jimbo
Feb 14, 2007
| Well I guess it must be our corrupt criminal beginnings but I'll support the jazzzer, being also from Australia that "a tinker's curse" is a common saying down under! Maybe that's why I got the teaser? |
Jimbo
Feb 14, 2007
| Well I guess it must be our corrupt criminal beginnings but I'll support the jazzer, being also from Australia that "a tinker's curse" is a common saying down under! Maybe that's why I got the teaser? |
vlerma
Feb 16, 2007
| Well again a problem caused by differences in the way we all speak the language. For me I guess, I wasn't too fond of this, simply because it caused some dissention in our family.  |
choptlivva
Feb 17, 2007
| We weren't dissenting V!! Just discussing that's all! |
taylortermes
Apr 11, 2007
| "3 Times Lucky" and "3's a charm"...so we have a "lucky charm"!
hahah I guess it's only lucky if you're sadistic, seeing as how it's a death wish. |
oddrey
May 07, 2007
| I said "stinker tinker" because i could think of anything else and it sounded funny.  |
Spice_2
May 19, 2007
| At thespian inductions, we watched a play called "For Whom the Tinkerbell Tolls" so I thought it was that. Lol |
jazzmusician46
May 20, 2007
|
That's funny! You made me laugh!!! |
bradon182001
Jun 22, 2009
| Very interesting rebus. |
