... recently taken to saying 'I could care less' when they mean 'I couldn't care less'? Perhaps I just haven't noticed it before.
It is a very strange turn of phrase though. Because when you say 'I could care less' it means that you do care to a certain extent.
2006-10-15 00:26:07 · 12 answers · asked by langdonrjones 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
It's sarcastic. Imagine that they were saying 'as if I could care less' and you'll get the idea. Somebody seeing a film that they don't like might say 'Oh yeah, that was the best film I've ever seen'. It's the same thing.
It's nothing new. It's almost as old as the original negative.
2006-10-15 00:32:11 · answer #1 · answered by XYZ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a recent thing. I've noticed this frequent error for over 30 years in the English language. Once your mind fixes on a certain error it becomes difficult to overlook. In short, it is English speakers who commonly make the mistake. You have recently made note of it.
2006-10-15 07:35:07 · answer #2 · answered by The Yahoo! Point Whore 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have noticed the same thing. They don't understand the phrase. It makes no sense to say, "I could care less" when belittling something/someone. Maybe its that new language in USA called Ebonics.
2006-10-15 07:29:12 · answer #3 · answered by farahwonderland2005 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I`ve always used the couldn`t care less phrase,maybe they`re just too lazy to get it right.
2006-10-15 07:46:17 · answer #4 · answered by Rich B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I could care less means I probably will care less, tomorrow! Anyway! I couldn't care less! There! I've said it now!!!
2006-10-15 07:32:02 · answer #5 · answered by wheeliebin 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That phrase has been around since the 1950's.
2006-10-15 07:29:28 · answer #6 · answered by Texan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oscar Wilde once said that Britain and America are two great countries separated buy one common language...then again he was a poof.
2006-10-15 07:28:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To quote from Forrest Gump: "Stupid is as stupid does"(or says)
2006-10-15 07:33:42 · answer #8 · answered by googlywotsit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To us, it means the same thing...
2006-10-15 07:27:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
beats me
2006-10-15 07:28:20 · answer #10 · answered by ancientcityentertainment 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋