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."

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: not care, worthless, of no account

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You'll hear the phrase 'give a hoot' out in the country.

Pronunciation

[HOOT] /huːt/

Meaning & Usage

- Worthless or of no importance (idiom)

Elmer:

He didn’t give a hoot for that cornbread.

Estel:

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

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.

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

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "hoot" literally mean an owl call here?

No - it’s a figurative way to say "not even a little bit."

Where is it used?

Throughout the South and Appalachia, and recognized nationally as a folksy expression.

Is it still used today?

Yes - especially in humorous or nostalgic speech.

...