Definition & Meaning of "[give|care] a tinker's damn"

What is the origin of the idiom "give a tinker's damn" and when to use it?

The phrase "give a tinker's damn" is an idiom that expresses a lack of concern or interest in something. It derives from the idea that tinkers (menders or repairers of utensils) didn't value the small amounts of solder or metal they used to repair items, so they did not care much about preserving it. Over time, this expression evolved into a way of saying that something is of little importance.