Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus./US) a general negative intensifer, at all, to the least degree, e.g. you ain’t helping your Mom worth a cent (cf. not worth a cent phr.).

1833		S. Smith Major Downing 23: They don’t seem to rip up worth a cent [DA].
1874		Atlanta Constitution 15 Feb. 5/3: As the slang phrase of the present day goes, he didn’t impeach worth a cent.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Jan. 18/4: Dickens could not exaggerate worth a cent.
1896		Riverina Recorder (Moulamein, NSW) 23 Sept. 2/4: Donelly did not play worth a cent. [...] [E]veryone asked ‘what the Dickens was up with him’.
1901		J. Flynt World of Graft 143: There are reports in this office that don’t help out your reputations worth a cent.
1902		Bulletin (Sydney) 26 July 36/2: [H]e had tried to haul the member out by the collar, and the collar had bust, and [...] he had tried to shove the member and he wouldn’t shove worth a copper!
1902		Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Dec. 13/4: Compared with the Hindoo, the Greek, and the miscellaneous Levantine the Chinaman can’t lie worth 2d., and his persistence in following a business for which he is quite unfitted is lamentable.
1914		Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Oct. 30/3: He isn’t allowed to correspond worth 2d.
1914		C. Holme Lonely Plough (1931) 108: It wouldn’t take more than a cent’s worth of shove to set his lordship against the Lugg.
1934		O. Strange Sudden 30: If we had a marshal worth a busted nickel, yu’d be stretchin’ hemp right now.
1973		C.P. Rosenberg in Heller In This Corner (1974) 90: I’m talking 1925, was when life was like three cents, especially around Chicago.

at all, to any degree whatsoever (cf. not worth a damn phr.).

1821		R. Waln Hermit in America on Visit to Phila. 2nd Ser. 26: The loser ripped out a volley [...] could’nt play worth a d--n, — and must go home and live on Adam’s ale.
1900		Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 256: I knew ’t I couldn’t steal worth a damn.
1902		Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Dec. 27/3: My throat’s that dry and sticky / I can’t swear worth a curse.
1925		D. Hammett ‘Corkscrew’ Story Omnibus (1966) 220: You can’t fight worth a damn!
1938		J. Weidman I Can Get It For You Wholesale 118: They haven’t had a line worth a damn in I don’t know how many years.
1951		J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 105: When I was in bed I couldn’t pray worth a damn.
1964		L. Hansberry Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window in Three Negro Plays (1969) I ii: I don’t think you’re funny worth a damn!
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 10: I couldn’t sing worth a damn.
1998		P. Cornwell Point of Origin (1999) 191: And to be honest, I don’t like that worth a damn, either.

at all, to any degree whatsoever (cf. not worth a good goddam phr.).

1965

H. Rhodes Chosen Few (1966) 155: He says you two don’t get along worth a good damn.

at all, to any degree whatsoever; of value (cf. not worth a shit phr.).

1924		E. Hemingway letter 20 Nov. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 135: I’m having a period of not being able to do anything worth a shit after this last story.
1974		C. Loken Come Monday Morning 82: You don’t talk worth a shit.
1984		D. Jenkins Life Its Ownself 172: [T]he Cowboys, despite their enviable record all these years, had never beaten a team that was physically worth a shit.
2002		(con. 1998–2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 137: O.G., you know I can’t write worth a shit.
2011		D.R. Pollock Devil All the Time 73: ‘Maybe someone worth a shit will show up’.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 260: ‘Ryan didn’t have a father worth a shit’.

at all, to any degree whatsoever (cf. not worth a turd phr.).

c.1731		‘You Fair, Who Play Tricks’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) V 198: ’Tis no wonder your Clyster dont prove worth a T--d.
1772		Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 213: Which will not turn out worth a t--.
1797		Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) I 286: Which will not turn out worth a t--d.

(US) valuable; see also under not worth a... phr.

1909

W. Irwin Confessions of a Con Man 69: Only one elephant in this show is worth a whoop.

see worth a cent

see worth a cent