Gave a hoot

CARED

Think of a phrase that means to feel concern or interest, often used when someone says "I couldn’t ___ less."

"Gave a hoot" is a playful way to say someone showed concern or paid attention, like the phrase "I don’t give a hoot" (meaning you don’t care). Here, it’s flipped to mean the opposite—so if you do give a hoot, you care. The answer "CARED" fits because it directly matches that idea of showing concern or interest. The clue relies on the idiom’s irony to lead you to the right word.