Why is it that Americans say "I could care less"

[Flyingcursor]

I say "couldn't care less". Another one I hear that drives me bonkers is "for all intensive purposes." WHAT? I usually cannot help but correct them.

[Wanderer]

when they obviously mean that they couldn't?

I've often wondered the same thing myself..

[khl]

Actually, come to think of it, it seems Americans opted for either "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less" because, after 1939, the more direct and dramatic "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" was no longer repeatable by lesser mortals.

[djm]

Who gives a f..... - Oops! Sorry. Blatant Canadianism.

djm

[missy]

And your point is?

[Martin Milner]

Actually, come to think of it, it seems Americans opted for either "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less" because, after 1939, the more direct and dramatic "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" was no longer repeatable by lesser mortals.

Presumably "Frankly, my dear, I do give a damn" didn't make sense.

[khl]

Actually, come to think of it, it seems Americans opted for either "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less" because, after 1939, the more direct and dramatic "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" was no longer repeatable by lesser mortals.

Presumably "Frankly, my dear, I do give a damn" didn't make sense.

Superbly said. I'll be laughing all day over this one.

[Wanderer]

An interesting discussion about the phrase can be found here
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm

[emmline]

I don't know why people say it. I don't. I remember when people began to substitute that phrase for "I couldn't care less." It sounded really dumb to me, even as a youngster.

So it's quite a recent thing, then? Is it because Americans have become more caring as a society? They once couldn't care less but now they care a bit?

Ian

Recent, as in within my verbal lifetime, which may not be considered recent by all. I also remember the shift, at least in the Mid-Atlantic states, from everyone saying "in line," (for example, waiting at the Dep't of Motor Vehicles,) to many people using the phrase "on line." That one drives me bonkers as it strictly connotes computer usage to me, not the physical act of standing in a queue.

[Martin Milner]

“it is impossible for me to have less interest or concern in this matter, since I am already utterly indifferent”. It is originally British.

Typical British Understatement?

[fiddleronvermouth]

Actually, while we're on the topic, I always wondered why Australians said "I couldn't be f_____ed" instead of "I didn't."

Example:

"Hey, Ollie, mate, did you call your mom on her birthday?"

"No, mate, I couldn't be f___ed".

Now, from where I'm sitting, that's hardly an excuse for not calling her mother on her birthday. It's not her fault, is it! Maybe if you'd laid off the Fosters before the sun came up you'd have had better luck.

Also, why is it that when you send my friends home after your big Comedy festival, you make them pronounce "Melbourne" and "Cairns" as "MELbn" and "CAAns". That sounds really stupid on a Canadian. Can you please tell them to not pronounce your city names "properly" before you send them home?

And what is an "arvo"?

I'm not sure you're in any position to be picking on Americans, eh?

[djm]

why is it that when you send my friends home after your big Comedy festival, you make them pronounce "Melbourne" and "Cairns" as "MELbn" and "CAAns".

I'm surprised you didn't ask about the Australian pre-occupation with visual accuity. Why greet others with the declaration, "Good eye"?

djm

[SteveShaw]

Actually, while we're on the topic, I always wondered why Australians said "I couldn't be f_____ed" instead of "I didn't."

Example:

"Hey, Ollie, mate, did you call your mom on her birthday?"

"No, mate, I couldn't be f___ed".

Naah, I couldn't be arsed" is the expression here.

[scottielvr]

... I also remember the shift, at least in the Mid-Atlantic states, from everyone saying "in line," (for example, waiting at the Dep't of Motor Vehicles,) to many people using the phrase "on line." That one drives me bonkers as it strictly connotes computer usage to me, not the physical act of standing in a queue.

Hmm. I've noticed that one too, but it seemed to me that "waiting on line" was a regional variant; I've only heard people from the Northeast use it. Here in the south folks still usually say "waiting in line;" distinct from "waiting on" something... as in, "We're all still waiting in line, waiting on that stupid cashier to stop jaw-jacking and ring up our groceries."

[emmline]

hmmm. Anyone remember when the word "myriad" suddenly exploded in usage like an algae bloom? I'd say it was about 1988. "Paradigm" was only a couple years behind.