i'd like to know because i use it all the time.
2007-12-28 12:11:20 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Back thousands of years ago before currency was invented, there was such an overpopulation of rats that in order to reward people for killing them, merchants would trade goods for rat hides, since it was proof that someone was contributing to the health of society in general by killing rats.
Later on with the invention of "money", the rat hides were no longer of any value because face it, why trade a loaf of bread for a dead rat? What the hell are you gonna do with a rat anyway? And so, with rat's hides becoming worthless, the expression "I don't give a rat's asss!" was born to refer to the uselessness of something, ie. "I would not give a worthless rat fur for that piece of crap!" And so, that is where it came from, now you know!
Seriously, I have no freaking idea where that came from.
2007-12-28 14:17:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I thought a cat like you would be all over that expression. Some cat must have come up with it as a way of saying they don't care about someone. I think it's because if you're a cat, you're pretty full by the time you get to the back end of a rat, and even though you can't eat any more, you're not going to give away what you have left.
2007-12-29 05:54:38 · answer #2 · answered by seadog 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
oh! The expression is of Italian origins. probably from the Mob.(maffia). They like to leave dead rats in places as a message. As a matter of fact, i think i heard Vinnie say to the boys and the Don, "I ain't givin' no rats a*ss to Frankie, Tony" (because he didn't want to drop off a dead rodent at the house of a fellow 'associate in the business'. it was a sign and a message to him. Dumb guito had the whack put on him for diming out someone) so..... i think that's where the expression comes from. It just got confused *thinks* yes definitely.
....... but yeah, i use it too.
(and *drat* i totally killed all the funny in this bit by going on a schpiel. *sighs* when will i learn? I don't give a rat's as*s i guess. LOL)
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2007-12-28 20:20:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's just general slang that started up sometime during the 20th century. While nobody knows for sure how it came about, it's believed that a rat was used in the expression because of the way people view the rodent (annoying and small).
2007-12-28 20:14:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Rat's @ss Charge. World War II, Dec '44.
Just for yucks I googled it. Fun reading. It's one of my fave expressions. Now I understand it. I'll let you look it up. Too long to cut & paste.
2007-12-28 20:23:41 · answer #5 · answered by Just Tink 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a good question and it makes me laugh because I am imagining a rat with a big @$$.
2007-12-28 22:01:00 · answer #6 · answered by ShrunkenFro™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means you just don't care for something-whatever it be that your not giving a rats @$s!!!
2007-12-28 20:35:51 · answer #7 · answered by KAREBEAR 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it came from the 1600's when a woman gave a rats behind to try and pay her loaf of bread
2007-12-28 20:14:21 · answer #8 · answered by Mistress Woo♥ 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A big cat said that about an ugly rodent.
2007-12-28 20:32:29 · answer #9 · answered by Just Nik 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a lowbrow way of saying " Frankly my dear, I don't give a stout rodents fundament".
Rose P.
2007-12-28 20:36:40 · answer #10 · answered by rose p 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋