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Zuotengdazuo Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Can I use "worth beans" as an idiom?

Hi, I have previously asked a question here.

https://www.italki.com/question/392599

But I am wondering if I can use "worth beans" as an idiom?

For example,

1. Can I say "I don't know anything about this matter worth beans" to mean "I don't know anything about this matter at all"?

2. Can I say "I didn't mean you any harm worth beans" or "I mean you no harm worth beans" to mean "I didn't mean you any harm at all"?

Thank you.

  

Top answer

There are various such sayings. eg You can't snowshoe f or toffee. com/dictionary/english/for-toffee I don't hear any of them very often.

— Clive

  • There are various such sayings.
  • eg You can't snowshoe f or toffee.
  • com/dictionary/english/for-toffee I don't hear any of them very often.
  • My advice is that you should avoid them.
  • They can sound silly if you don't get it quite right.
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3 Answers
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There are various such sayings.

eg You can't snowshoe for toffee.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/for-toffee


I don't hear any of them very often. My advice is that you should avoid them. They can sound silly if you don't get it q

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In the US, "worth beans" is still sometimes heard, but it is used in certain situations only, and with certain specific phrasing. That is, you can't just substitute "worth beans" anywhere that you want to say "worth nothing." Some examples of correct usage (the two examples you gave are not right, especially the second one):


What I know about this isn't worth beans. (= I don't kn

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zuotengdazuo"worth beans"

This is not familiar to all native English speakers. May would find it baffling.

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