Couldn’t be asked/arsed?

[purplebeansprouts]

Which do you use?

Sorry my first sentence should say they're not referring to the act of being ASKED to do something.

I've seen people who use "aks/axe" or "aksed/axed" and they've always meant "ask" or "asked". It's a very common way of saying ask/asked in some communities and it has stuck. I'm not sure how it started.

“arks” is ask, not arse.

But ask has morphed into aks in some place. It isn't arse that's morphed into aks. So aksed means asked, aksed doesn't mean arsed.

It's 'arsed'. 'Asked' is a mishearing, retrospectively justified by people saying it 'makes more sense' because you don't want to be 'asked' to do it, which is nonsense. 'Arsed' is slang for 'bothered', which is obviously what it means here.

How can you tell the difference between asked and arsed in an Essex/SE London accent? Just arsking!

You can tell the difference between asked and arsed in any accent, I'd have thought, because 'asked' has a 'k' sound in it. Essex and London accents may drop 't', but I've never heard of them dropping a 'k'!

Many people say aksed instead of asked but haven't heard it as a replacement for arsed

I don’t think this is correct. It’s always been “another think coming”, British or American, as far as I know…

My understanding is that since the late 19th century, in the UK at least, ‘another thing coming’ has been in everyday use, and in this country is most commonly used. Though, its origin is almost certainly the American ‘another think’. The evolution of language is fascinating

It's never been thing. It's a two part phrase with the same word repeated. "If you think that you've got another think coming". Randomly changing the second use of think to thing makes no sense.

@Tryingtokeepgoing It's always been "think"

Thing isn't in common usage. It's only ever used by people who should of, put people on pedal stools, or ask (or arse) if they are aloud to do something

It's arsed not asked and another think coming not thing. It's also he's doing well and not his doing well. There are so many corruptions of sayings/words/grammar these days and it all stems from social media. So many people who don't know how to spell or have never really heard of old expressions and don't engage their brain anyway.

The kids say 'asked.' My 13 year old dd and all her friends do anyway and was shocked I said arsed.

Perhaps they were teaching about Noah. Although I guess he only built one.

It’s obvious Arsed because Arsed is a synonym for Bothered.

”Do you want the blue or the green?”
”I’m not arsed, either will do”

”Shall be go to the chippy or the Chinese?”
”I’m not really arsed about dinner, let’s just get a butty when we got home.”

”Should we go by Uncle Dave’s and pick him up as well?”
”If he were arsed about a lift he’d have said.”

You say that like it's an accent thing as opposed to an eggcorn.

Like saying "North West London and we say would of." That doesn't make it correct.

It doesn’t stem from social media and there are lots of reasons people may not have heard of old expressions (the number one reason being cultural and language differences). It doesn’t make them stupid, it’s just something they don’t know. Don’t be so ignorant.

I have a very "educated" sounding RP accent and I often won't pronounce the 'k' in asked. It's a bit like the 'x' in sixth*, or the second 'f' in fifth. You know it's there but sometimes it's too much effort.

*I mean I'd say "sicth" not "sith", of course.

If English is your first language (and you're not dyslexic) and you don't know the difference between "his" and "he's" - well, I wouldn't see it as a marker of intelligence and education, let's put it that way.

I do think social media is partly to blame as people generally read a far higher proportion of unedited prose than they used to.

Arsed - never heared of couldn't be asked ?

I’m not talking about his/he’s - that’s basic grammar. I’m talking about sayings and idioms like “can’t be arsed / asked” and “had another think / thing coming”. They’re forgivable if you’re learning phrases through hearing them said aloud and haven’t had anyone to correct you (without being an arsehole about it!)

All the posters I've seen on FB with appalling spelling or people I've heard in conversation corrupting expressions are white British. But thanks for calling me out as an ignorant racist anyway.

@ginasevern You’re welcome

I've heard it but it's wrong.

Oh yes, I agree with you there. Another poster mentioned his/he's.

Kids at school all say asked. They genuinely think that is the phrase. I have to tell them not to because I can't hear it as asked and just hear them saying arse which is obviously inappropriate at school!

I don't care if they're not actually saying that, it's been arsed forever. Asked is just stupid!