People always say... " I could care less."?

Question

when people want it to seem like they dont care about something, they say "I could care less." But if they want it to show that they dont care, shouldn't they say, "I couldn't care less?"

Answer 1

Yes, the correct expression is "I couldn't care less," meaning "I do not care at all." It is therefore impossible for me to care any less than I do.

Answer 2

I would agree with you that the ORIGINAL form of the expression -- "I couldn't care less" -- is generally to be preferred.

But the form "I could care less" may not be just a simple, confused variant.

I confess that for years I dismissed the "could" version as ignorant and illogical. In fact, it IS illogical -- so don't get caught up in various attempts to make good sense of it!

But I seem to have missed the point. The way to make sense of "I could care less" is to recognize that it is SARCASTIC.

One writer, in fact, points out that the way the whole expression differently from the negative form. I can't fully represent it here, so you'll have to look at the link, but I've tried to give the idea below (I've marked the highpoint of the expression with asterisks. In the second version "could" is the lowest, least emphasized part, quite the opposite of "COULDN'T".)

"i *COULDN'T* care LESS". vs. "I could *CARE* less."

http://ling.kgw.tu-berlin.de/lexicography/data/MAVENS.html p. 377
= Steven Pinker, The Language Instinct - How the Mind Creates Language, HarperPerennial, 1995, ch 12


Note - this may well explain the ORIGIN of this variation. That doesn't mean everyone who USES this form actually GETS it that it is supposed to be sarcastic (and so, they may not pronounce it as described above). But it does argue that the "illogic" of the form was originally intentional!

Also note that the way this variant is pronounced undercuts the argument of those who try to suggest that the statement is strictly logical. They act as if it were "I COULD care less".

_______________

It might help to compare these forms with the sarcastic use of "fat chance" (or in a longer form "fat lot of good it will do"). The tone of voice that indicates one means the exact opposite.

But note that even though each expression refers to the same 'basic facts', they are NOT exactly the same (and so cannot be exchanged) because the sarcastic "fat chance" includes an ATTITUDE that's not present in "slim chance". The same is true of "I could/n't care less"

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/fat+chance
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9911d&L=ads-l&F=&S=&P=4982

Answer 3

it places the emphasis on the fact that they dont care period. if you tell someone you could care less, that means you are telling them you care so little that you actually could care less but it wouldnt be a marginal change

Answer 4

That makes sense and is logical, but most of people aren't logical and place more emphasis on the feeling that words deliver rather than the message itself.

make any sense?

Answer 5

English can be a funny language at times. If you ate pasta and anti-pasta, would you still be hungry?

Your alarm goes "off" by going "on", only in English.

When "stars are out" they are visible, but when "lights are out" they are NOT visible

Only in English can we have noses that "run", and feet that "smell". Right?

We can "recite" on stage in a PLAY, or ironically we can PLAY at a "recital".

We can "ship" by CAR, and send cargo by "ship".

We drive on "parkways", and park on "driveways".

How can "quite a lot" and "quite a few" be so similar, and overlook and oversee be complete opposites?!?

How can "SLIM chance" and "FAT chance" be the same?!?

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the SELF-HELP section?"

She said "IF I tell you, it would defeat the whole purpose"!

When I "wind up" my watch I get it started, but if I "wind up" here I get it stopped.