I can’t be asked…

[maudelovesharold]

instead of ‘arsed’, is becoming the new ‘you’ve got another thing coming’! I’ve seen it cropping up a lot, lately. Annoying.

Ffs. Honestly?

It's a 'politer' way of saying CBA.

Yup, I had a huge problem convincing a year 7 that it was inappropriate and that it is arsed rather than asked, hence her not realising the inappropriate nature of the comment. It seems to be a thing now.

It’s not polite, if you say it, though. It sounds just like arsed, to people who know what the actual phrase is! It might look more polite when written, but I don’t think that’s intentional, it’s just a mis-hearing, like ‘could of’ ‘thing’ etc.

Hence the 'politer'.

Surely ‘can’t be bothered’ is the politer version. Maybe ‘can’t really …’, with inflection if irony or softness is intended. Even if ‘asked’ is a deliberate misspelling, in the context of ‘could of’ and ‘another thing coming’ it risks being thought ignorant.

I have not heard or seen this myself, much to my relief. Is it perhaps spelt ‘arsked’ as an ironic way to avoid swearing? Could another variant be 'assed’?

I had the exact same conversation with my year 9s. It doesn’t even make sense

In the south of the UK, ‘arsed’ and ‘asked’ sound pretty much the same, so I think some people just think it’s ‘asked’ and don’t get the connection with ‘arse’ at all!

The difference between asked and arsed completely changes the context/meaning. I get OP. Its totally bonkers. Don't even get me started on another think/thing coming.

So like the ‘should of’ thing seems to have started then. How awful.

I have also always assumed this was a euphemism, like 'duck' for 'fuck'. I agree with pp who says such euphemisms are pointless - if I was in a setting where 'arsed' wasn't appropriate, I'd find another way of putting it such as 'I can't be bothered'.

I think you're right there. I am further north and when asked to say 'asked' my accent wouldn't have it sounding like 'arsked'.

Is 'arse' one of those four-lettered Anglo-Saxon words which became non-u when the high French lords came over in a flutter of flags and dames?

I have tried to think of an example where you just might say, "I can't be asked", but I can't come up with a decent one.

I assumed it was something that got Bowdlerised by 'politer people' and now those who don't read are writing it down because that's what they've heard so it MUST be right?

Arse, feck, women's knickers - to quote the inestimable Father Jack.

I thought it was because people had misheard "assed," as in, American for arsed.

It might be in the Midlands/North, but dahn sarf ‘assed’ ’ cannot be mistaken for ‘asked’, which is pronounced ‘arsked’ and sounds very similar to ‘arsed’!