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Anton Adam
Darn but not Damn-it
I am not really sure about the exact meaning of 'to darn' as a verb, and 'darn' as a noun. I know that 'darn' can be polite for 'damn-it', but that is not what I am referring to.
I think it's the reparation of holes in socks, but is that the only use of the 'not damn-it' darn, or is it a more general word too? Can you darn your jacket? Can you darn your roof if it's broken? Can you darn a dam?
Dec 2, 2013 9:34 AM
Answers · 2
2
Hi Jacky:
"Darn" by definition, refers to repairing a hole in a piece of clothing. Darn does not apply to repairing things other than clothing.
"Darn" has a secondary usage. It is used as a polite substitute for the profanity, "damn".
In polite company, "damn" is profanity and "darn" is considered an acceptable epithet.
However, usages have changed very much in the past century.
In contemporary American, "damn" is itself, a very mild profanity. Darn is mostly out of fashion and a forgotten term. In contemporary America, Profanity has become more acceptable in general usage.
There are still however, occasions where the coarser forms of profanity are generally prohibited as a societal norm.
.
December 2, 2013
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Anton Adam
Language Skills
Dutch, English, German
Learning Language
German
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