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

[In The Woods]

Beats me.

With best regards,

Steve Mack

[talasiga]

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

It means that one is, like, so so not bothered to do something that one would not even do it if someone desirable offered a pleasurable copulatory experience to persuade one to do it.

_______________________________________________

And what is an "arvo"?

Well how can Peggioh be an abbreviation of Peggy?

[talasiga]

Beats me.

....

Be very very careful 'mericanos with your colloquial derogations
lest this expression becomes "beat me".

[ICohen]

Ian may be observing and listening to the same Americans as I do - the ones on the TV. They aren't even up-to-date Americans: some of them go back ten years and even longer. But the usage on the Television screen, in sitcoms and thrillers, is unanimously "I could care less."

Actually, what prompted this question was the use of this phrase in an electronic magazine I subscribe to. I gave up watching American TV shows a few years back, so I have no idea what they say in those shows.

Ian

[ICohen]

In your case, I would venture to say that most here understood what you meant in your first post notwithstanding it is replete with spelling errors.
Perhaps they were typos but I don't want to nitpick. Australians, as a generality, hate nitpickers.

What spelling errors?

[ICohen]

And your point is?

Simply curiosity. I thought there might be culturally significant reason behind dropping the "n't" that wasn't apparent to us foreigners.

Ian

[ICohen]

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.

What makes me laugh is "One fowl swoop." Makes me think of the "Chicken Run" movie

Ian

[Innocent Bystander]

Isn't it "One Swell Foop"?

[ICohen]

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

They've borrowed that word from the Americans. Hopefully they'll give it back soon. I and many others choose to eschew the use of that word.

Example:

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

Actually an Australian would say "Hey, Ollie, mate, did you call your mum on her birthday?"

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?

No.

And what is an "arvo"?

Comes after lunchtime.

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

For the record I was trying to discover the origin of that phrase but I do I sense that I've touched a raw nerve?

Ian

[talasiga]

.....
For the record I was trying to discover the origin of that phrase but I do I sense that I've touched a raw nerve?

You'll know when you've touched a raw nerve when your posts disappear without explanation.

[Joseph E. Smith]

Spelling, schmelling... I could care less.

[Wanderer]

Spelling, schmelling... I could care less.

I couldn't...

[Joseph E. Smith]

Spelling, schmelling... I could care less.

I couldn't...

[Martin Milner]

So, do Americans spell curious and obvious as curios and obvios?

[Joseph E. Smith]

You'll know when you've touched a raw nerve when your posts disappear without explanation.

Name calling will get your posts deleted without explanation... except this time that is.