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Original poster

I could care less/I could give a damn

195 replies

Fran2023 · 03/12/2024 08:04

Trivial I know, but I’m trying to keep my mind off the mess that the world is in.

Does it bother anyone else when you hear or read someone saying ‘I could care less’ when they mean ‘I couldn’t care less’ ?

What this mistake means is the opposite to the what they (appear) to mean. For example: ‘I could give a damn that you need a lift to the station. I’m busy!’

Anyway, just wanted to share and as it’s only me and the cat this morning and she told me that she ‘could care less’ I’m posting here.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
MasterBeth · 04/12/2024 23:28

TheSkyRaisin · 04/12/2024 12:05

I've come to the conclusion that language evolves because of stupidity and laziness.

Sometime before the 1600s educated and pedantic people were bemoaning the stupidity and laziness that changed norange to orange and napron to apron. No doubt there was much tutting and eyerolling, but it clearly made no difference.

The same way -assuming humanity still exists in a few hundred years - people will marvel over the etymology of chester draws:

"Did you know they did not originate in Chester, that's a common mistake. The term was originally 'chest of draws' and draws used to be spelt d-r-a-w-e-r-s with two syllables! Sometime in the 21st century people decided they could no longer be asked about the -er at the end."

"Oh, how interesting! The way language evolves is fascinating."

🙄🙄🙄

It is patronising and wrong to suggest that someone who pronounces "drawers" with one syllable (i.e. a standard Southern English speaker) is either lazy or stupid.

MasterBeth · 04/12/2024 23:24

Fran2023 · 04/12/2024 21:20

‘Another think coming’ doesn’t make sense to me.

The phrase is ‘if you think that you have another thing coming.’ The ‘thing’ refers to the pronoun ‘that’ i.e. the thing that you are thinking.

Think is not a noun so the phrase ‘another think coming’ does not make sense. It doesn’t strike me as word play either

If I heard it I would assume that the person speaking was someone who also says ‘somethink’.

Edited

Well, you can think that if you like, but check any dictionary of phrases and you will have another think coming.

Thunderpants88 · 04/12/2024 23:10

Berlinlover · 03/12/2024 08:33

Loose instead of lose is the one that annoys me the most. The majority of people on Mumsnet spell it incorrectly. Brought instead of bought is something I’ve only seen since I joined Mumsnet.

I am pretty intelligent and I do not know when to use each of these words correctly

ImADeadGirlWalking · 04/12/2024 23:08

Facebook marketplace:

Chester draws needs gone £100

🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

bellocchild · 04/12/2024 22:26

I get annoyed by 'We're going London/Croydon/ Oxford Street on Saturday'.

DappledThings · 04/12/2024 22:12

Fran2023 · 04/12/2024 21:20

‘Another think coming’ doesn’t make sense to me.

The phrase is ‘if you think that you have another thing coming.’ The ‘thing’ refers to the pronoun ‘that’ i.e. the thing that you are thinking.

Think is not a noun so the phrase ‘another think coming’ does not make sense. It doesn’t strike me as word play either

If I heard it I would assume that the person speaking was someone who also says ‘somethink’.

Edited

It is think. Go and have a think about it a bit more.

AlertCat · 04/12/2024 21:48

Fran2023 · 04/12/2024 21:20

‘Another think coming’ doesn’t make sense to me.

The phrase is ‘if you think that you have another thing coming.’ The ‘thing’ refers to the pronoun ‘that’ i.e. the thing that you are thinking.

Think is not a noun so the phrase ‘another think coming’ does not make sense. It doesn’t strike me as word play either

If I heard it I would assume that the person speaking was someone who also says ‘somethink’.

Edited

Think can be a noun. “I’m having a think about it.”

PuppyMonkey · 04/12/2024 21:35

Maybe you better have another think about that rather bizarre and totally wrong explanation OP. Grin

Original poster
Fran2023 · 04/12/2024 21:20

‘Another think coming’ doesn’t make sense to me.

The phrase is ‘if you think that you have another thing coming.’ The ‘thing’ refers to the pronoun ‘that’ i.e. the thing that you are thinking.

Think is not a noun so the phrase ‘another think coming’ does not make sense. It doesn’t strike me as word play either

If I heard it I would assume that the person speaking was someone who also says ‘somethink’.

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 04/12/2024 12:20

On the other other hand, if you use the ‘another thing coming’ in the context of what you are expecting to receive, it makes more sense. If she thinks she’s going to get a new car for her birthday, she’s got another thing coming does clearly convey that they thing she’s expecting (a car) isn’t what she’ll get, she’s getting another thing…perhaps a bike :)

I mean this in a loving way, but WTF are you on about?Grin

If she thinks she’s getting a new car, she’s got another think coming.

Can’t you see that’s the whole joke/play on words?

TheSkyRaisin · 04/12/2024 12:07

The above conversation will take place telepathically via neural implants or something.

TheSkyRaisin · 04/12/2024 12:05

I've come to the conclusion that language evolves because of stupidity and laziness.

Sometime before the 1600s educated and pedantic people were bemoaning the stupidity and laziness that changed norange to orange and napron to apron. No doubt there was much tutting and eyerolling, but it clearly made no difference.

The same way -assuming humanity still exists in a few hundred years - people will marvel over the etymology of chester draws:

"Did you know they did not originate in Chester, that's a common mistake. The term was originally 'chest of draws' and draws used to be spelt d-r-a-w-e-r-s with two syllables! Sometime in the 21st century people decided they could no longer be asked about the -er at the end."

"Oh, how interesting! The way language evolves is fascinating."

🙄🙄🙄

Catsmere · 04/12/2024 10:55

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/12/2024 08:51

I think this type of this is often a result of autocorrect - the word is spelled correctly but it is the wrong word - people assume it is the right word because their phone says so and it becomes accepted. There are plenty of other examples like this.

Show quote history

Could well be, or here, that someone didn't catch their mistake before posting. This one was a thread title, so there'd be no correcting it.

I think the one that irritates me most is how "lay" has taken over from "lie".

AlertCat · 04/12/2024 09:15

evilharpy · 03/12/2024 08:47

I'm in my mid forties and have never in my life heard "another think coming". It doesn't make any sense.

Show quote history

Apologies if someone else has said this! It’s “think” because it would be something like, “If you think you’re getting away with that, you’ve got another think coming.” Meaning that you’re wrong, you’ll have to change your opinion, think again=> have another think.

squashyhat · 04/12/2024 08:55

Mmmcheese89 · 03/12/2024 10:44

This is brilliant. I'm sending it to all my illiterate Facebook friends as an early Christmas present. I'm sure they will thank me Grin

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/12/2024 08:51

Catsmere · 03/12/2024 22:40

I saw one the other day that had someone being "at a lose end" - I just hope it was a typo!

Show quote history

I think this type of this is often a result of autocorrect - the word is spelled correctly but it is the wrong word - people assume it is the right word because their phone says so and it becomes accepted. There are plenty of other examples like this.

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/12/2024 08:47

DaphnesCafe · 03/12/2024 11:15

No, it’s not! It’s been corrupted to nettle. It still makes sense but that’s not the original idiom. Mettle means bravery/strength etc.

Show quote history

No. It's nettle. It means be brave and do the thing that is going to be uncomfortable or difficult.

CaptainMyCaptain · 04/12/2024 08:45

evilharpy · 03/12/2024 08:47

I'm in my mid forties and have never in my life heard "another think coming". It doesn't make any sense.

Show quote history

It does. If you think I'm going to (e.g.) clean up after you then you have another think coming (because you are wrong).

Another thing coming wouldn't make sense.

Onthesideofthespiders · 04/12/2024 08:33

@5128gap
Sorry! Meant to quote the one two above you. Didn’t scroll back up far enough!

5128gap · 04/12/2024 08:27

Onthesideofthespiders · 04/12/2024 07:58

It came from them being sarcastic and saying the phrase, “Like I could care less.” The like got dropped so now it doesn’t make sense. Your football example makes absolutely no sense. Just stick to the real version of what happened. Sarcasm gone wrong.

Edited
Show quote history

Sorry, I've no idea what you mean. It was I who said perhaps it came from the like being dropped. Never mentioned football.

Onthesideofthespiders · 04/12/2024 07:58

5128gap · 03/12/2024 22:52

Yes, I know. I'm just trying to understand where the US version might be coming from.

Show quote history

It came from them being sarcastic and saying the phrase, “Like I could care less.” The like got dropped so now it doesn’t make sense. Your football example makes absolutely no sense. Just stick to the real version of what happened. Sarcasm gone wrong.

5128gap · 03/12/2024 22:52

NetDesMamans1 · 03/12/2024 22:35

@5128gap - still incorrect. It's 'I couldn't care less'. It's saying that you could not care any less about something than you do. You care about it at the lowest level possible.

Yes, I know. I'm just trying to understand where the US version might be coming from.

5128gap · 03/12/2024 22:51

Onthesideofthespiders · 03/12/2024 11:58

What’s your source? It’s always been grasp your nettle.

Show quote history

Grasp the nettle where I'm from. Coming from if you firmly take hold of a nettle then you won't get stung as badly because you'll crush the little stinging hairs down. So dont dilly dally with it or it'll be more painful. According to my grandad who did indeed pull them up with his bare hands.

NetDesMamans1 · 03/12/2024 22:42

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Aha! You still should have said that you couldn't care less. You were saying that the amount you cared about it couldn't have been any less.

Catsmere · 03/12/2024 22:40

Berlinlover · 03/12/2024 08:33

Loose instead of lose is the one that annoys me the most. The majority of people on Mumsnet spell it incorrectly. Brought instead of bought is something I’ve only seen since I joined Mumsnet.

I saw one the other day that had someone being "at a lose end" - I just hope it was a typo!