To think I could care less means I care at least a bit?

[saveforthat]

When did the expression "I couldn't care less "change into "I could care less". It's just wrong.

I never heard of I cant be asked until mn. Another thread revealed many people thought this was the actual saying!

I could care less is wrong.

"It's the Americans and their tenuous grasp of the English language I'm afraid!"

'Fraid not - sorry to inform you that I only heard "couldn't care less" in America. The first place I heard "could care less" was here. What does that make the people living in Great Britain?!?

YANBU. Completely nonsensical phrase.

I'm intrigued by the idea that using "could" is a mistake rather than a deliberate distortion. I think it's the latter, and that seems to be supported by my reading on various etymology websites.

The whole "another think/thing coming" debacle had its roots in a mistake. People couldn't aurally distinguish between "think" and "thing" and, as use of the word "think" in the context of the phrase is slightly counterintuitive and requires one to simultaneously process two different senses of "think", people assumed "thing" was correct.

"Could care less" is very deliberate, IMO.

Ice Wouldn't it be more descriptive to say "heels over head"? That's the original phrase.

I've only heard Americans say "could care less". I've had American colleagues say it in conversation, in messaging and also read it in books, and have noted it as we say "couldn't care less". If people over here are now saying "could care less" they've picked it up from America somehow I would have thought.

YANBU

"I could care less" can go from caring a little bit to caring a lot.

It's meaningless.

I'm American and I don't say "could care less."

Wow. This must be bash-Americans-for-their-onslaught-on-the-English-language day on MN. Seriously, y'all need to work on "I was sat" before you start coming for us.