INDIFFERENCE, INDIFFERENT, INDIFFERENTLY
ADJECTIVES
► ADIAPHOROUS neutral, indifferent, immaterial; neither right nor wrong morally → 1635
► BAUCH ► BAUGH weak, poor, pitiless; without stamina; indifferent → a1560 Sc.
► BLASÉ indifferent to and bored by pleasures of life → 1930
► CALLOUSED ► CALLUSED callous, indifferent → 1887 Sc.
► COULDN’T-CARE-LESS indifferent → 1947
► DON’T-CARE-IFIED without concern, indifferent → 1927 Amer. dial.
► DON’T-CARE-ISH without concern, indifferent → 1927 Amer. dial.
► EASY of small importance, insignificant, slight; not very good, indifferent → 1468 obs.
► FLIP indifferent → 1847
► HALF-PIE indifferent → c1926 NZ sl.
► HUCKLEBERRY indifferent → 1893 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► LALLA careless, indifferent → 1950 Amer. dial.
► LAODICEAN lukewarm, lacking enthusiasm; indifferent in religion, politics, etc. → 1633
► LAPSY lazy, slow; indifferent → 1872 Eng. dial.
► LUKE having little depth of feeling, lacking zeal, enthusiasm or ardour; indifferent → 1340 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► MATTERLESS indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested → 1760 Eng. dial.
► NEGLIGENT heedless, careless, indifferent → c1440
► NO GREAT SHAKES indifferent → 1819
► NONCURANTIST marked by indifference → 1882
► NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT ► NOTHING WORTH WRITING HOME ABOUT indifferent → 1914
► POCOCURANTE caring little, careless, indifferent, nonchalant → 1815
► POTTY indifferent; shaky → 1860
► SAVOURLESS spiritless, listless, indifferent, wanting in wit or pluck → 1804 Sc.
► SO SO indifferent → 1530
► SO-SOISH adj. somewhat so-so; rather indifferent → 1819
► UP-SITTEN callous, indifferent, listless → 1827 Sc.
► WHAT-THE-HELL indifferent → 1968
ADVERBS
► ANY HOW indifferently, carelessly → M19 sl.
► MEET indifferently → 1905 Eng. dial. obs. (Bk.)
NOUNS
► ADIAPHORACY ► ADIAPHORICIE indifference, neutrality → 1612
► ADIAPHORY indifference → 1660 obs.
► BAUCHNESS want, defect of any kind, indifference → 1727 Sc.
► FAINEANTISE ‘do-nothing-ness’ ; indisposition to do anything; indifference, inactivity → a1684
► FOXING an air of indifference to what is going on → M19 sl.
► FOX’S SLEEP an air of indifference to what is going on → M19 sl.
► FROIDEUR coldness of manner; indifference, disdain, reserve → 1645
► ICEBERGSHIP coldness, indifference → 1842
► LAODICEANISM indifference, lukewarmness → 1774
► NEGLECT indifference → 1597 obs.
► OVERLINESS superficiality; carelessness; indifference → 1653 obs.
► SANG-FROID coolness, indifference, absence of excitement or agitation → 1750
► UNAFFECTEDNESS impassiveness, indifference → 1670 obs.
NOUNS – PERSON
► GALLIO a person who is indifferent; an easygoing person → 1850
► LAODICEAN one who is lukewarm or indifferent in religion, politics, etc. → 1772
► LUKEWARMLING a lukewarm person, one who has little depth of feeling, or lacks zeal, enthusiasm or ardour; an indifferent person → a1640 obs.
► PESTLE-TAIL a person of an indifferent kind → 1899 Amer. dial.
► POCOCURANTE a careless or indifferent person; one who shows little interest or concern; a trifler → 1762
► SHORTHORN an ordinary person, one of indifferent quality and not belonging to the best sort → 1899 Amer. dial.
PHRASES
► COULD CARE LESS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1966 US
► COULDN’T CARE LESS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1946
► I AIN’T STUDYING to be indifferent or not care → 1998 African-American sl.
► I COULD CARE LESS a statement of absolute indifference, although the opposite sentiment, albeit hidden, may be the true one → 1940s sl.
► I COULDN’T CARE LESS a statement of absolute indifference, although the opposite sentiment, albeit hidden, may be the true one → 1940s sl.
► I COULDN’T CARE LESS IF THE COW CALVES OR BREAKS A LEG a statement of absolute indifference, although the opposite sentiment, albeit hidden, may be the true one → 1940s NZ sl.
► LEATHER AND PRUNELLA an expression for something to which one is utterly indifferent → 1734
► NOT BE FUSSED to be indifferent to something, not care → 1988 Brit.
► NOT CARE A BUGGER to be indifferent to something, not care → 1922 Brit.
► NOT CARE A CUSS not care in the slightest; to be completely indifferent, unconcerned, or uninterested → 1843
► NOT CARE A DAMN to be indifferent to something, not care → 1760
► NOT CARE A FRIG to be indifferent to something, not care → 1955
► NOT CARE A FUCK to be indifferent to something, not care → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT CARE A HANG to be indifferent to something, not care → 1861, ‘hang’ a euphemism for ‘damn’
► NOT CARE A HOOT to be indifferent to something, not care → 1925
► NOT CARE A MONKEY’S TOSS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1960 Brit.
► NOT CARE A RAP to be indifferent to something, not care → 1834
► NOT CARE A SOD to be indifferent to something, not care → 1961 Brit.
► NOT CARE A STUFF to be indifferent to something, not care → 1974 chiefly Aust. & NZ
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S CUSS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1824
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S DAMN to be indifferent to something, not care → 1824
► NOT CARE A TOSS to be indifferent to something; not care → 1876
► NOT CARE A TUPPENNY HANG to be indifferent to something, not care → 1887 Brit.
► NOT CARE A TWOPENNY DAMN ► NOT CARE A TYPPENNY DAMN to be indifferent to something, not care → 1887 Brit.
► NOT CARE TUPPENCE ► NOT CARE TWOPENCE to indifferent to something, not care → a1744 sl.
► NOT CARE TWO HOOTS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1925
► NOT GIVE A BUGGER to be indifferent to something, not care → 1922 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A CUSS not care in the slightest; to be completely indifferent, unconcerned, or uninterested → 1894
► NOT GIVE A DAMN to be indifferent to something, not care → 1760
► NOT GIVE A FRIG to be indifferent to something, not care → 1955
► NOT GIVE A FUCK to be indifferent to something, not care → 1929
► NOT GIVE A HANG to be indifferent to something, not care → 1861, ‘hang’ a euphemism for ‘damn’
► NOT GIVE A HOOT to be indifferent to something, not care → 1925
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S FUCK to be indifferent to something, not care → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S TOSS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1960 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A RAP to be indifferent to something, not care → 1834
► NOT GIVE A SHIT ► NOT GIVE A SHITE to be indifferent to something, not care → 1922
► NOT GIVE A SHIZZLE to be indifferent or not care → 2006 African-American sl.
► NOT GIVE A SOD to be indifferent to something, not care → 1961 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A STUFF to be indifferent to something, not care → 1974 chiefly Aust. & NZ
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S to be indifferent to something, not care → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S CURSE to be indifferent to something, not care → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S CUSS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S DAMN to be indifferent to something, not care → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TOSS to be indifferent to something; not care → 1876
► NOT GIVE A TUPPENNY DAMN ► NOT GIVE A TWOPENNY DAMN to be indifferent to something, not care → 1887 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A TUPPENNY HANG ► NOT GIVE A TWOPENNY HANG to be indifferent to something, not care → 1887 Brit.
► NOT GIVE TUPPENCE ► NOT GIVE TWOPENCE to be indifferent to something, not care → a1744 sl.
► NOT GIVE TWO HOOTS to be indifferent to something, not care → 1925
► NOT TO CARE A BUTTON a simile of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a button → Bk1891 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A CENT a simile of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a cent → 1848 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A FARTHING a simile of indifference; to not care about a matter → 1709 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A FIG a simile of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a fig → 1833 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A HANG a simile of indifference; to not care about a matter → 1891 colloq. (Bk.)
► NOT TO CARE A MONKEY’S FUCK to be completely indifferent or unconcerned; not to care at all → 1961 sl.
► NOT TO CARE A PIN a simile of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a pin → 1633 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A POINT a simile of indifference; to not care about a matter → 1590 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A RAP a simile of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a rap → 1871 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A RUSH a simile of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a rush → 1891 colloq. (Bk.)
► NOT TO CARE A SNAP a simile of indifference; to not care about a matter → 1889 colloq.
► NOT TO CARE A STRAW a simile of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a straw→ 1891 colloq. (Bk.)
► NOT TO GIVE A HATE not to give a damn, an expression of indifference → 1929 Amer. dial.
► NOT TO GIVE A MONKEY’S to be completely indifferent or unconcerned; not to care at all → 1960 sl.
VERBS
► BE JAKE-EASY ► BE JECK-EASY to be indifferent, not caring one way or the other → 1888 Sc.
► CAST ONE’S CAP AT to show indifference to; to give up for lost → 1579 obs.
► KIO to assume indifference; to ‘Kiss It Off’ → 1968 US sl. (Bk.)
► SHAKE ONE’S EARS to show indifference or dislike → 1583
► TAKE A RUNNING JUMP AT YOURSELF to express hostility, contempt, or defiant indifference → 1871 colloq.