Dec 21, 2007 15:21
16 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
give-a-shit attitude
English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
[Context:
He had a way of intimidating other men and he knew it. Maybe it was his size. At six-three and two-thirty he wasn't the biggest guy around, so maybe his give-a-shit attitude had more to do with it than his size.]
"give-a-shit attitude"?
Is it the same as "I-don't-give-a-shit attitude"?
Any suggestion?
He had a way of intimidating other men and he knew it. Maybe it was his size. At six-three and two-thirty he wasn't the biggest guy around, so maybe his give-a-shit attitude had more to do with it than his size.]
"give-a-shit attitude"?
Is it the same as "I-don't-give-a-shit attitude"?
Any suggestion?
Responses
+17
4 mins
María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Panama
Panama
Panama
Synesthete with a flair for tasty words!
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Argentine, US, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, Latin American, Colombian, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Nicaraguan, Mexican, Peruvian, Venezuelan, Cuban, Honduran) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
32
Selected
don't-give-a-shit attitude (same meaning)
Actually, yes, they do mean the same thing.
It's the same thing that happens with the expression "I couldn't care less", which has evolved into "I could care less". For a discussion of this phenomenon, see http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001201.h...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2007-12-21 15:30:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Also, "negation by association": http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001202.h...
You can do a search for "could care less" in LanguageLog, there are several blog posts dedicated to this type of phrase (phrasing? formulation?).
It's the same thing that happens with the expression "I couldn't care less", which has evolved into "I could care less". For a discussion of this phenomenon, see http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001201.h...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2007-12-21 15:30:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Also, "negation by association": http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001202.h...
You can do a search for "could care less" in LanguageLog, there are several blog posts dedicated to this type of phrase (phrasing? formulation?).
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
2 hrs
Claire Chapman
Native in English
&
English
All things textile
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English to French, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
to care, be concerned; to care the least bit
I read this expression entirely completely different from everyone else who has posted so far. As I understand this phrase, it means that he cares, perhaps just barely. To not give a shit is to not care at all.
Typically, writers have a very good command of the language. In the context of your text, it appears the the man is large enough to throw his weight around and intimidate people. The author speculates that it could be the man's attitude, and not his weight, which intimidates people. If someone had a 'don't give a shit' attitude, I would expect them to be laid back and easy going. This man would be the opposite and might even have a kind of 'in you face' attitude that others find threatening.
shit – noun
12. give a shit, Slang. to care; be concerned.
13. no shit, (used to express amazement, incredulity, or derision).
14. up shit creek, Slang. in a desperate or hopeless situation; in serious trouble. Also, up shits creek, up shit creek without a paddle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Idioms(s):
give a shit – to care the least bit.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shit
Area husband pretends to give a shit
Lafayette, Ga. – Attempting to pacify his wife Jena's incessant desire for verbal interaction, area husband Chris Woodman pretended to give a shit Tuesday as his wife of six years initiated and dominated a series of prolonged dialogues regarding an array of unrelated, unimportant subjects.
http://www.recoilmag.com/news/area_husband_pretends_0702.htm...
The United States of America's foreign policy is simple:
If you trade with the USA, and promise not to take up arms because you give a shit about the world's other countries, religions, or races, the USA promises not to give a shit about you or your country.
http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~amarth/humor/americadoesntgive...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2007-12-21 18:18:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
correction: 'in your face' not 'in you face'
Typically, writers have a very good command of the language. In the context of your text, it appears the the man is large enough to throw his weight around and intimidate people. The author speculates that it could be the man's attitude, and not his weight, which intimidates people. If someone had a 'don't give a shit' attitude, I would expect them to be laid back and easy going. This man would be the opposite and might even have a kind of 'in you face' attitude that others find threatening.
shit – noun
12. give a shit, Slang. to care; be concerned.
13. no shit, (used to express amazement, incredulity, or derision).
14. up shit creek, Slang. in a desperate or hopeless situation; in serious trouble. Also, up shits creek, up shit creek without a paddle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Idioms(s):
give a shit – to care the least bit.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shit
Area husband pretends to give a shit
Lafayette, Ga. – Attempting to pacify his wife Jena's incessant desire for verbal interaction, area husband Chris Woodman pretended to give a shit Tuesday as his wife of six years initiated and dominated a series of prolonged dialogues regarding an array of unrelated, unimportant subjects.
http://www.recoilmag.com/news/area_husband_pretends_0702.htm...
The United States of America's foreign policy is simple:
If you trade with the USA, and promise not to take up arms because you give a shit about the world's other countries, religions, or races, the USA promises not to give a shit about you or your country.
http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~amarth/humor/americadoesntgive...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2007-12-21 18:18:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
correction: 'in your face' not 'in you face'
Something went wrong...