To think the British way of saying I couldn’t care less vs the American way of saying I could care less makes much more sense?

[Eaglemom]

the title explains my gripe! When I hear it in films it gets my goat

Also - American bashing? I’m dual nationality. My kids are American. I’m not bashing. Lots of things are silly there and here and everywhere. Language is interesting.

Can I share my favourite American phrase? A ‘flat tire’ for accidentally knocking the back of someone’s shoe off.

Oh, interesting! When you think about the sheer scale of the US, I guess it’s just another variation!

On the face of it, no, it doesn’t make sense. But really it just means - I COULD care less, but hardly any less. (As far as I interpret it anyway!)

Yeah, I agree with those saying that anyone saying "could care less" is wrong. It's not the correct expression in America, either, though some people can't seem to get it right. Same as "could of" instead of "could've".

I lived in American university towns and neighbourhoods before moving to the UK. That’s when I learnt idiomatic English (or American), and I also never, or seldom, heard ‘I could care less.’

A fair proportion of our students (Russell Group university) have been using the phrase during the last few years. I notice because it sounds so strange. My hair stylist does, too.

Yes, it grates on me too but then again so does a lot of things about Americans!

It's a different way of saying I couldn't give rat's arse which is a pretty common phrase.

HolidayAddict23 · Today 07:19

Yes, it grates on me too but then again so does a lot of things about Americans!

Right back at you!

That's interesting. It makes sense in that case

The Americans are simply wrong. The phrase is there to indicate your utter disinterest in whatever it is you are commenting hence indicating that you are unable to "care less" about the topic. If you "could care less" about it then you have some care for whatever it is and therefore or not utterly disinterested. I wonder if this is a similar phenomenon as when people collectively mishear lyrics in songs.

I also see it a fair bit in American fiction.

Yeah..it still doesn't make sense even with this bit added 😂

You don't have to 'try' to care less, you just do. So saying you can't be bothered to care less still doesn't make sense because it still implies you do care a bit.

It sounds to me like a case of lost empire syndrome. 😃

Some Americanisms make more sense to me, sidewalk makes more sense than pavement for example. This one really irritates me too though.

It's humour...

Here's David Mitchell on this very subject:

You are 100% correct: the expression is "I could not care less" (i.e., it is not possible for me to care any less [about this issue] than I already do...) And I'm American. So if you're hearing anyone - American or otherwise - saying "I could care less;" they're just saying it wrong, probably because they've grown accustomed to hearing it and saying it that way. But it also irks me every time I hear someone say, "I could care less."

"I could care less" is sarcasm, "I couldn't care less" is straightforward and literal.

So many people don't understand what sarcasm is!

I didn't have the USA down as the home of sarcastic humo(u)r (with a few notable exceptions) - you learn something new every day.

I've never heard "I could care less." I thought the Americans just said "shucks" to mean the same thing.

Not as annoying as.
"needs used up"

I've been watching The West Wing for the 5th time but this time alongside the West Wing Weekly podcast. One of the actors from it who co-hosts the podcast picked up on one of the other characters saying "I could care less" and how annoying it is, especially as said character is a professional speechwriter and usually meticulous in the accurate and effective use of words.

So that was one American annoyed with other American writers for giving an American character lines that included a phrase spoken incorrectly.

It's "I couldn't care less" in America too! Anyone you hear saying to wrong is just an idiot. It's like saying irregardless

Or needs gone.

Or I was sat/stood.

My American DH used to say this. I called him out on it every time he said it, and now he says it properly 😎