Hoot
In Southern and Appalachian English, "hoot" often appears in expressions like "not give a hoot" or "not worth a hoot," meaning "not care at all" or "worthless."
synonyms: not care, worthless, of no account
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear the phrase 'give a hoot' out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear the phrase 'give a hoot' out in the country. Pronunciation
[HOOT]
/huːt/
/huːt/
Meaning & Usage
- Worthless or of no importance (idiom)
Elmer:
He didn’t give a hoot for that cornbread.
He didn’t give a hoot for that cornbread.
Estel:
More for us then.
More for us then.variations: not worth a hoot, not give a hoot
★ "Hoot" here isn’t about owls - it’s a folksy stand-in for "bit" or "whit." "Don’t give a hoot" = "don’t care at all." ★
Origin and Etymology
From 19th-century American English "hoot" meaning "shout" or "noise" (especially of an owl). "Not give a hoot" or "not worth a hoot" became folksy ways to say "worthless" or "of no concern." Widely preserved in Southern/Appalachian speech.
Usage Notes
- Common across Appalachia and the rural South; recognized elsewhere but more folksy/old-timey outside the region.
- Often used in negative or evaluative expressions ("don’t give a hoot," "not worth a hoot").
- Tag under sayings and Dialect and Grammar as a classic folksy valuation phrase.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 28). Hoot. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/hoot
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Hoot." HillbillySlang.com, 28 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/hoot.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Hoot." HillbillySlang.com. September 28, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/hoot.
advertisement...
Most Popular
About
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...