People tend to say, "I could care less" when they mean "It's not important enough to me to even care about"- is that correct? I thought it was "I couldn't care less"... but I've been wrong once or twice... lol
2006-12-23 05:30:09 · 13 answers · asked by boots&hank 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The phrase should be "I couldn't care less" but unfortunately the entirely illogical "I could care less" is winning out.
2006-12-23 05:33:07 · answer #1 · answered by CanProf 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
The correct phrase is "I couldn't care less" meaning that it's not possible for me to care less than I do now. But, like they said above, people are using "I could care less" instead. It's the same with the phrase "doing a half-asked job." It means you've done only half of what was asked of you. And I'm not going to say the phrase that people are using instead.
2006-12-23 13:39:26 · answer #2 · answered by yowhatdoyouwant 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This was covered recently. You should look in the archives first; that's what the archives are for.
Anyway, the proper phrase is "couldn't care less." People who think it's "could care less" aren't thinking before they speak, or else they would understand the difference.
2006-12-23 15:44:56 · answer #3 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To mean something is of no importance to you it is 'I couldn't care less.' This shows that you have absolutely no concern and will never have any concern for whatever the subject is.
If you 'could care less,' this implies that you do carry some concern for the subject at hand.
2006-12-23 13:40:29 · answer #4 · answered by Lonnie P 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well i say "I couldn't care less" but then i could be wrong too! but who really cares less anyway
2006-12-23 13:32:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
ever one says "i could care less" but they mean to say "i couldn't care less" but saying "It's not important enough to me to even care about" is just kinda a long version of "i couldn't care less"
2006-12-23 13:39:20 · answer #6 · answered by Nicki 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's only Americans who say "I could care less!" as an 'insult'!
I suspect it started as a lazy-tongue sort of thing, but they deny it to their dying breath! Nowadays, some of them even pretend that they say it out of politeness ... it's too mean and nasty to insult someone by saying that you couldn't possibly care less about them ... so they insult people by saying that they COULD care less, out of the goodness of their hearts ...! Aaah! Diddums..! (If only it were true! But I expect their 'Moms' told them that nonsense when they were good little Christian children - ANYTHING rather than waste time trying to teach the little beggars how to speak ENGLISH properly...!! Or how to pronounce the word 'Mum'!)
; )
2006-12-24 00:33:20 · answer #7 · answered by _ 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is, "I couldn't care less, " meaning that you care nothing at all, itis impossible for you to think more on the matter.
2006-12-23 13:54:53 · answer #8 · answered by quizicalgal 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is I couldn't care less.
I don't know why Americans usually say I could care less.
2006-12-23 13:37:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
"I couldn't care less" is the only correct way. "(I could care less" means you DO care.)
2006-12-23 13:38:19 · answer #10 · answered by CrankyYankee 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋