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Oxford Dictionary of Idioms
Oxford Dictionary of Idioms
Home > Reference > Idioms > Not worth a tinker's dam

Idiom: Not worth a tinker's dam


Idiom Definition

Meaning:

  • This means that something is worthless and dates back to when someone would travel around the countryside repairing things such as a kitchen pot with a hole in it. He was called a 'tinker'. His dam was used to stop the flow of soldering material being used to close the hole. Of course his 'trade' is passé, thus his dam is worth nothing.

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Contributed By: Carol Wainwright
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