From the context I took this to mean something along the lines of "This is a matter of total indifference to me". Here in the UK the equivalent phrase is "I couldn't care less". Does anyone know why the difference? Taken literally they do mean slightly different things but do they have the same inference on both sides of the pond?In another thread missy wrote:I could care less
Caring Less
- jbarter
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Caring Less
May the joy of music be ever thine.
(BTW, my name is John)
(BTW, my name is John)
- Bloomfield
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Re: Caring Less
"I could care less" is a careless solecism that has entered American English some decades ago and is a fair way to replacing the comprehensible "I couldn't care less."jbarter wrote:From the context I took this to mean something along the lines of "This is a matter of total indifference to me". Here in the UK the equivalent phrase is "I couldn't care less". Does anyone know why the difference? Taken literally they do mean slightly different things but do they have the same inference on both sides of the pond?In another thread missy wrote:I could care less
/Bloomfield
You are correct.. It's just as bloomfield said above, people don'tWombat wrote:I think 'I could care less' said in the US means 'I couldn't care less' said anywhere else. I'll be interested to see if I've got this wrong.
think about the actual meanings of the idioms they spout, so when
and incorrect (or gramatically senseless) version comes about, it
can get passed around. "I could care less" (along with "irregardless",
et al.) is common fodder for American columnists, grammer Nazis,
and English teachers. I have heard both the correct and incorrect
forms used in the US.
More info:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm
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It's true, people don't think about the idioms they repeat.
One woman I used to work with, got a "Not if I see you first" reply to "See you!".
She decided that this was the trendy thing to say and repeated it to absolutely everyone. Finally we had to take pity on her and explain it.
One woman I used to work with, got a "Not if I see you first" reply to "See you!".
She decided that this was the trendy thing to say and repeated it to absolutely everyone. Finally we had to take pity on her and explain it.
Wizard needs whiskey, badly!
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The "n't" is silent, like the initial "o" in "possum" and the "P" in "bathtub."
But seriously, folks, I think there is an element of sarcasm inherent in "I could care less," which is why its meaning is lost on the Brits and other sarcasm-challenged peoples. And since sarcasm depends heavily on inflection and tone, the meaning of "I could care less" is often missed in written communication.
Therefore, in writing, "I could not care less," would be preferred, since it is less open to misinterpretation and less likely to be subject to the associated pissing and moaning from off-shore, literal-minded critics who themselves have a regrettable tendency to insert a superfluous 'u' in '-or' words. But "I could care less" is fine in speech over here because we know precisely what the hell we are talking about.
(Edited to add that I checked with American Heritageand am pleased to see they agree with me.)
But seriously, folks, I think there is an element of sarcasm inherent in "I could care less," which is why its meaning is lost on the Brits and other sarcasm-challenged peoples. And since sarcasm depends heavily on inflection and tone, the meaning of "I could care less" is often missed in written communication.
Therefore, in writing, "I could not care less," would be preferred, since it is less open to misinterpretation and less likely to be subject to the associated pissing and moaning from off-shore, literal-minded critics who themselves have a regrettable tendency to insert a superfluous 'u' in '-or' words. But "I could care less" is fine in speech over here because we know precisely what the hell we are talking about.
(Edited to add that I checked with American Heritageand am pleased to see they agree with me.)
Last edited by gonzo914 on Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Crazy for the blue white and red
Crazy for the blue white and red
And yellow fringe
Crazy for the blue white red and yellow
Crazy for the blue white and red
And yellow fringe
Crazy for the blue white red and yellow
- jbarter
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That's the sort of thing I figured the US version must come from. A sort of more thoughtful version of "whatever".jsluder wrote:If it bugs you, just pretend it's short for, "I could care less, but that would require me to think about it."
It doesn't bug me at all, in fact I couldn't give a rat's ass about it. It's just that some of the minor differences between the UK and the US get me thinking more than the major ones do.
(I do however have a bag of rats' asses and will gladly present you with one if you find a topic that bothers me)
May the joy of music be ever thine.
(BTW, my name is John)
(BTW, my name is John)
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This shows Americans not understanding an English expression. Just like the English struggle with American expressions, at times.missy wrote:I was told that "I couldn't care less" makes no sense because if I wasn't going to care why would I care less.
So - I was then told to use "I could care less", because I really didn't want to care at all about it.
How about I just don't give a d@mn?
/Bloomfield
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jbarter wrote:It doesn't bug me at all, in fact I couldn't give a rat's ass about it.
Whatever......
I thought it was supposed to be a bag of spanners?? Did I miss something? Or am I confusing it all....again? Not that I want a bag of spanners, or a bag of rats' asses for that matter.(I do however have a bag of rats' asses and will gladly present you with one if you find a topic that bothers me)
Someday, everything is gonna be diff'rent
When I paint my masterpiece.
When I paint my masterpiece.