a
phrase used to indicate one does not
care at all, in any way, shape or
form. This is a coined variation and combination of
don't give (or
care) two hoots and
don't give a continental. The
phrase don't give a hoot was popular in the nineteenth century as
don't
care a hooter for, and hooter was
thought to be a regional dialect variation of
iota, meaning any very small amount.
Don't give a continental was the eighteenth-century equivalent of
don't give a hoot, and continental referred to the paper
money issued during the
American Revolution (1755-1783), considered worthless as there was no
gold or
silver reserves to back it up.