"COULD" care less? What does this mean?

HarrietSabre
HarrietSabre Posts: 186 Member
in Chit-Chat
I've noticed that this is (more of) an American saying...but what does it mean? It doesn't make sense to me because here in the UK we say "I couldn't care less" meaning that we already care so little that it would be IMPOSSIBLE to care less (meaning that we don't give a s**t).

What does "I could care less" mean? It sounds like it means "I really care a lot so I could care a little less" but it's never used in that context...unless I'm misinterpreting everything I read on these boards :P
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Replies

  • Sinisterly
    Sinisterly Posts: 10,913 Member
    It means it is used incorrectly.

    The correct term is indeed "Couldn't care less", because how do you care when 0 cares are given, to put it in a G-rated sense.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    I've always assumed it's more like ,"I care just enough not to throat punch you, but I could care a little less and back over you with my car."
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    I've always assumed it's more like ,"I care just enough not to throat punch you, but I could care a little less and back over you with my car."

    Lol
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    You are correct, the phrase is "I couldn't care less." People simply say it incorrectly; we seem to have that problem with a lot of sayings in the US.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Apparently English grammar is hard.
  • paygep
    paygep Posts: 401 Member
    I don't think I could care less.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Apparently English grammar is hard.

    dat be why we speak "merican grammer round here we could care less boo yah! in yo face "merica 'merica merica!!!
  • ravenribbs
    ravenribbs Posts: 289 Member
    >>I don't think I could care less<<

    Correct usage--nicely done!!
  • ravenribbs
    ravenribbs Posts: 289 Member
    >>dat be why we speak "merican grammer round here we could care less boo yah! in yo face "merica 'merica merica!!! <<
    lmao!!!!!
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    This drives me nuts.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,454 Member
    irregardless, you knew what they meant.
  • FindingMyPerfection
    FindingMyPerfection Posts: 702 Member
    irregardless, you knew what they meant.
    This just hurts me!
  • Kenazwa
    Kenazwa Posts: 278 Member
    My interpretation is that I don't care very much, but I could care less. Sort of like I'm not going to hire someone to kill you but I'm going to hang up on you.
  • 19TaraLynn84
    19TaraLynn84 Posts: 739 Member
    It's a pet peeve of mine, along with "irregardless."
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    "irregardless" is like nails on a chalkboard... *shudder*
  • SrJoben
    SrJoben Posts: 484 Member
    David Mitchell says all that needs to be said about this:

    http://youtu.be/om7O0MFkmpw
  • DownsizingAaron
    DownsizingAaron Posts: 127 Member
    That's why I tell people we don't speak English, we speak American - often poorly.
  • cornfritter22
    cornfritter22 Posts: 230 Member
    David Mitchell says all that needs to be said about this:

    http://youtu.be/om7O0MFkmpw

    You beat me to it! I love that video. It taught me "hold the fort" which made sense, but never knew about until this video.
  • jennyjcss
    jennyjcss Posts: 439 Member
    It means it is used incorrectly.

    The correct term is indeed "Couldn't care less", because how do you care when 0 cares are given, to put it in a G-rated sense.

    Hehe.. Or Another word "I dont give D@#* " :P~

    English grammer is more harder for me,being Chinese Asian..but I learn

    Normally I earn being called silly girl, because of misinterpretation of sentences
  • LINIA
    LINIA Posts: 1,159 Member
    We speak ***AMERICAN*** very well; however when we're required to speak English, many of us do a "piss poor" job!
  • Sinisterly
    Sinisterly Posts: 10,913 Member
    We speak ***AMERICAN*** very well; however when we're required to speak English, many of us do a "piss poor" job!
    Absolutely rubbish.
  • HDHogger
    HDHogger Posts: 764
    I don't think I could care less.
    I don't think I could care less is the same as I do think I couldn't care less. It's the emphasis on negativity that defines the statement.

    The correct adage is couldn't care less.
  • fast_eddie_72
    fast_eddie_72 Posts: 719 Member
    I hate semantic nonsense, but this one is one of my pet peeves.
  • HDHogger
    HDHogger Posts: 764
    I couldn't care less -- :laugh:
  • dpwellman
    dpwellman Posts: 3,271 Member
    I could care less. . . but I won't; because if I, indeed, could not care less, I would not even acknowledge the quantity of my caring-- or lack thereof.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    It means it is used incorrectly.

    The correct term is indeed "Couldn't care less", because how do you care when 0 cares are given, to put it in a G-rated sense.

    there-it-goes.gif

    :laugh:
  • HDHogger
    HDHogger Posts: 764
    more or less, I don't care!
  • JohnsElan
    JohnsElan Posts: 81
    UK and US. Separated by a common language. Hah!
  • HDHogger
    HDHogger Posts: 764
    so the UK along with the US couldn't care less is more than the UK or US couldn't care less because and means in addition to
  • creativerick
    creativerick Posts: 270 Member
    http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm

    - It's used so much; it's acceptable US slang. As the article notes, doesn't have the same effect when written.

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