10 Jan 04
2 edits
UK: I couldn't care less about that!
US: I could care less about that!
The two sentences above have exactly the same meaning in practice, yet grammatically are opposites. What's going on with the phrase 'I could care less' in American English? Surely if you could care less, ie it would be possible for you to care less than you do, you must care, and yet the phrase means 'I don't care'.
Sorry if this doesn't make sense to anyone, but it is an annoyance of mine, especially since this use of 'could' to mean 'could not' seems to be creeping into British English. I'd just like to establish whether the US sentence given above is correct or simply extremely popular (I did a check on google, and I could care less got more hits than I couldn't care less).
10 Jan 04
Originally posted by AcolyteI think now with all the new tech all this will be lost.We should value what came before.
UK: I couldn't care less about that!
US: I could care less about that!
The two sentences above have exactly the same meaning in practice, yet grammatically are opposites. What's going on with the phrase 'I could care less' in American English? Surely if you could care less, ie it would be possible for you to care less than you do, you must care, ...[text shortened]... pular (I did a check on google, and I could care less got more hits than I couldn't care less).
10 Jan 04
One of my favourite pet peeves that! "I could care less", when coming from a native English speeker seems say to me to say "I don't know how to speak my own language", in addition to conveying a message exactly opposite to what the speaker means. 🙄
As far as I know, "I could care less" is simply a mistake, and a persistent one at that. Very annoying indeed. Which must mean that about this particular issue, though there are worse crimes in the world, I really could care less! 🙂
-Jarno
10 Jan 04
Originally posted by AcolyteThat is one of my all-time pet peeves as well. People who say "I COULD care less" should be flogged. Of course, they're always too stupid to even realize why it is incorrect. You explain it to them and they just look at you like you're from another planet, or something. AAAAAARGH!
UK: I couldn't care less about that!
US: I could care less about that!
The two sentences above have exactly the same meaning in practice, yet grammatically are opposites. What's going on with the phrase 'I could care less' in American English? Surely if you could care less, ie it would be possible for you to care less than you do, you must care, ...[text shortened]... pular (I did a check on google, and I could care less got more hits than I couldn't care less).
Another one that rankles me just as much are people who use the wrong form of: there, their, and they're. Bloody idiots! Flog them all. Flog them all, I say!
10 Jan 04
Originally posted by rwingettAlso your and you're. And what the hell does same difference mean?😕
That is one of my all-time pet peeves as well. People who say "I COULD care less" should be flogged. Of course, they're always too stupid to even realize why it is incorrect. You explain it to them and they just look at you like you're from another planet, or something. AAAAAARGH!
Another one that rankles me just as much are people who use the wrong form of: there, their, and they're. Bloody idiots! Flog them all. Flog them all, I say!
10 Jan 04
Originally posted by rwingett
That is one of my all-time pet peeves as well. People who say "I COULD care less" should be flogged. Of course, they're always too stupid to even realize why it is incorrect. You explain it to them and they just look at you like you're from another planet, or something. AAAAAARGH!
Another one that rankles me just as much are people who use the wrong form of: there, their, and they're. Bloody idiots! Flog them all. Flog them all, I say!
I see .... you had one of your dreams huh ..... 😀
10 Jan 04
Originally posted by AcolyteJust another American import along with MacDonalds, KFC, etc....pretty soon Osama bin Laden "could care less"... 😀
UK: I couldn't care less about that!
US: I could care less about that!
The two sentences above have exactly the same meaning in practice, yet grammatically are opposites. What's going on with the phrase 'I could care less' in American English? Surely if you could care less, ie it would be possible for you to care less than you do, you must care, ...[text shortened]... pular (I did a check on google, and I could care less got more hits than I couldn't care less).
10 Jan 04
1 edit
Originally posted by AcolyteThis IS sort of silly, but it is NOT MY FAULT. I speak a bizarre combination of the two dialects which I call 'Azores English', even though it is more American than British and the Azores are closer to the UK. My website would be a good example.
UK: I couldn't care less about that!
US: I could care less about that!
The two sentences above have exactly the same meaning in practice, yet grammatically are opposites. What's going on with the phrase 'I could care less' in Ame ...[text shortened]... , and I could care less got more hits than I couldn't care less).
BTW, I blame RHP for this. I've spent too much time talking with you crazy Brits 😉.
Furthermore, Acolyte, I blame the beginning of it on you, because I talked to you enough that I realized that 'maths' makes more sense than 'math'. The rest is, as they say, history, but you either could or couldn't care less.
10 Jan 04
Originally posted by AcolyteThat is funny, cus here in New England we say this... or at least me and my friends do....
UK: I couldn't care less about that!
US: I could care less about that!
The two sentences above have exactly the same meaning in practice, yet grammatically are opposites. What's going on with the phrase 'I could care less' in American English? Surely if you could care less, ie it would be possible for you to care less than you do, you must care, ...[text shortened]... pular (I did a check on google, and I could care less got more hits than I couldn't care less).
"I could care less.... No, wait.... I couldn't care less!"
So yes I've heard both, and now I say both as a joke. I had no idea it was a US vs. England thing. I couldn't care less makes much more sense.
P-
10 Jan 04
Originally posted by AcolyteI'm an American, but that has always irritated me too. It's even worse, sometimes, when people say 'I could care' and leave it at that! Absurd. Here are two other gems:
UK: I couldn't care less about that!
US: I could care less about that!
The two sentences above have exactly the same meaning in practice, yet grammatically are opposites. What's going on with the phrase 'I could care less' in American English? Surely if you could care less, ie it would be possible for you to care less than you do, you must care, and yet the phrase means 'I don't care'.
'Irregardless,' a non-word, is used often in place of regardless.
'For heaven's sakes,' pluralizing 'sake' for no reason.
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10 Jan 04
Originally posted by PhlabibitWhat about the word aluminium? It has a second 'i' in it, but pronounced ALUMINUM by Americans! The second i hasn't disappered has it?😕
That is funny, cus here in New England we say this... or at least me and my friends do....
"I could care less.... No, wait.... I couldn't care less!"
So yes I've heard both, and now I say both as a joke. I had no idea it was a US vs. England thing. I couldn't care less makes much more sense.
P-