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damned
damn by association
To condemn, vilify, or discredit someone or something due to an association with a particular person, group, or thing. The multinational corporation was damned by association when it came to light that an employee of one of its subsidiaries belonged to a white supremacist organization. After the terrorist attack, many people were quick to damn by association anyone who belonged to the same faith as the terrorists.
damned if (one) does and damned if (one) doesn't
Said when one is faced with two undesirable options. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't—if I confess that I broke the vase, then my parents will be mad, and if I don't, then I'll feel guilty about it. A: "Katie found out that I also asked Colleen to prom. Should I come clean with her?" B: "Man, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't!"
(something) be damned
Said of something that is ignored or disregarded by someone else, to the dismay of the speaker. "Be damned" is a set phrase. Apparently, they are firing all of their best photographers, quality be damned! These new politicians say whatever they want, and decency be damned.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Prov. No matter what you do, it will cause trouble. If I use this money to pay the rent, I won't have enough left over for food. But if I don't use the money to pay the rent, my landlord will evict me. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Helen: If I invite Shirley to the party, I'm sure she'll get drunk and make an unpleasant scene. But if I don't invite her, she'll never forgive me. Jane: Damned if you do, damned if you don't, huh?
I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.
Fig. There are problems if I do something and problems if I don't do it. I can't win. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. No matter whether I go or stay, I am in trouble. I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.
something be damned
this thing is not important
They tend to select the best software packages available, and costs be damned. If you repeat a lie often enough, people will think it must be true, facts be damned. Usage notes: usually used with plural nouns, as in the examples
damned if you do and damned if you don't
(slang) criticized whatever you decide It doesn't matter if the president's wife uses the power of her position or not - she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't.
I'll be damned
(slang) I am surprised a€?Well, I'll be damned,a€? he said when he saw that a thousand people had come to hear him speak.
I'll be damned if I do something
(slang) I will not let something happen I'll be damned if I let her tell me that I don't belong here.
be damned if you do and damned if you don't
if you say that someone is damned if they do and damned if they don't, you mean they will be criticized whatever they do When it comes to removing children from parents suspected of abuse, social workers are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
damned if I do, damned if I don't
A situation in which one can't win. For example,
If I invite Aunt Jane, Mother will be angry, and if I don't, I lose Jane's friendship-I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't . Eric Partridge suggested this idiom may have come from the emphatic
I'm damned if I do, meaning "I definitely will not do something," but despite the similar wording the quite different meaning argues against this theory. [
Colloquial; first half of 1900s] Also see
catch-22.
damn well
Also, damned well. Certainly, without doubt; emphatically. For example, You damn well better improve your grades, or I know damned well that he's leaving me out. The damn in this phrase is mainly an intensifier.
Damned if I know
and DIIN and DIIK phr. & comp. abb. I don’t know.; I have no idea. (DIIN is for poor spellers.) Don’t ask me! DIIK.
damn well
Without any doubt; positively: I am damn well going to file charges against him.