give a hoot

verb

To care about; to place value on something.

Similar
becarebothercareconcern oneselfheedmindrecktrouble oneself
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Meanings

verbgive a hoot (third-person singular simple present gives a hoot, present participle giving a hoot, simple past gave a hoot, past participle given a hoot)

present singular third person gives a hoot · participle present giving a hoot · past gave a hoot · participle past given a hoot

  1. USeuphemisticidiomaticslangTo care about; to place value on something.

    Give a hoot — don't pollute!

    1971 September 15, United States Forest Service, Woodsy Owl PSA, YouTube
    1 more example

    I don't care for a glorious name— / I wouldn't give a hoot for fame;

    1909 July 28, Wilberforce Jenkins, “A True Philosopher”, in Munsey's Magazine, volume 41, number 4, Light Verse, page 595

    Synonyms: becare, bother, care, concern oneself, heed, mind, reck, trouble oneself

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo care about; to place value on something.

Similar
becarebothercareconcern oneselfheedmindrecktrouble oneselfworry

More synonyms by meaning

verbshow no concern or interest; always used in the negative

Similar
care a hanggive a hanggive a damn
Broader
expressshowevince
Also see
give a damngive a hang

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

give a hoot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20a%20hoot

MLA

“give a hoot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20a%20hoot. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give a hoot,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20a%20hoot.

Source: give a hoot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.