"I could care less"

[LethalTexture]

well, it is more grammatically correct to use "couldn't care less", but I find more generally that Americans use 2could care less". I'm not trying to be offensive to anybody, but I've only seen American users say it that way.

 

[Jorah]

Haha, I thought I was the only one that cared about the way people said that XD I always say "I couldn't care less" and I've always found it really funny, and somewhat annoying, when people say they "could" care less, too. XD. If people like saying that, then fine, but I always find it annoying.

 

[♣Gawain♣]

I always say "I could care less" as "It doesn't really matter", if I mean I couldn't care less I would say I couldn't care less.

Well spoken. It is like the synonym of "I don't really care". You couldn't care less because you are incapable of doing it and because that is the limit. Anyway, this is bit confusing.

 

[Bianca Paragon]

Well spoken. It is like the synonym of "I don't really care". You couldn't care less because you are incapable of doing it and because that is the limit. Anyway, this is bit confusing.

How is saying "I really don't care" anywhere like a synonym for "I care enough that there are things I care less about" which is what you're saying when you say "I could care less"?

 

[♣Gawain♣]

I'm referring to a singular object, and it means that "I don't care because I have other things to care about". And you're making it more confusing.

 

[Bianca Paragon]

I'm referring to a singular object, and it means that "I don't care because I have other things to care about". And you're making it more confusing.

But by saying "I could care less" it means there's things you care less about so therefore you DO care.

Here's a diagram

If you say "I couldn't care less"; here' is what you're saying:

Most Care Factor
Stuff
Things
Other Stuff
This
Least Care Factor

​

Now, notice there's nothing you care LESS about because it's at the bottom. There's nothing below it, because you could NOT care less; that's how LITTLE you care.

But if you say "I could care less" you're saying this:

Most Care Factor
Stuff
This
Things
Other Stuff
Least Care Factor

​

Notice how much higher it is up the list? It means you care about it quite a lot, in-fact! As a matter of fact it could be the thing you care MOST about! Because you care less about other stuff which means this is pretty darn important to you.

 

[Legobricks]

One could argue that 'could care less' takes the implication of the original phrase but leaves the amount more apathy they can express open for discovery or the like.
But the phrase alone to an unfamiliar speaker implies more that one actually does care, much as though they had said 'i couldn't care more'; and indeed I took it to mean this the first few times I read it.
Subject already covered and ongoing immeditaely above, it seems. [post was edited although no edit caption is visible]

It's like arguing the political correctness of saying "God bless you". You know in what context they're saying the phase, it's not like it's in gibberish. Doesn't bother me at all.

I'd always seen these as rather literal, as back when they were first said, they would've been. 'God bless you' means what it says, to me, and hence not being monotheistic I have never said it.

 

[22sa]

Funny thread =P

But those phrases have different meanings. They both make sense.

 

[Anxiety.]

Meh. I get used to people's mistakes, and learn to stop correcting them, for I am no grammar god myself.

 

[Trap-Eds]

If you say "I could care less," that means that you can care less, but if you say "I couldn't care less," that means that you can not care less...soo...yeah. Dang, the English language is crazy. :o

 

[poopnoodle]

I'll be honest, I'm extremely analytical when it comes to other people's syntax. (I certainly don't consider myself perfect, however.) Yes, I do notice when people say "I could care less."

 

[Blue Nocturne]

If you say "I could care less," that means that you can care less, but if you say "I couldn't care less," that means that you can not care less...soo...yeah. Dang, the English language is crazy. :o

What about most every other language? English is one of the few (if only im not sure) laguages that has recognised the Tables do not have genders. Although the neuonces of the English language take a lifetime to understand, such as the never ending list of variables for different conjunctions.

I couldn't care less about other peoples grammar though, not on an internet forum anyway. As long as it is in some way possible to understand then im happy.

 

[RYOUKI]

Well, that was a very confusing phrase. I really couldn't care less. Since I, myself, is bad at grammar.

 

[Gymnotide]

Too much rage in this thread.
And, yes, I could care less.

 

[~*!*~Tatsujin Gosuto~*!*~]

I see a lot of mods in here
I never say "I could care less" I always say "I couldn't care less". Actually, I really don't say stuff like that, if I don't care about whatever it is, I just keep my mouth shut or not type anything at all.

 

[Kirbychuu]

This thread gave me a good laugh. x3
Tbh, I always flat-out say "I don't care."

 

[Crimson Stardust]

i have never say that before...haha..can't see much difference anyway

 

[GKS]

They both mean the same thing...it is best to just deal with it.

 

[Bianca Paragon]

They both mean the same thing...it is best to just deal with it.

No, they don't. They mean opposite things; that's the crux of this thread. See the handy visual aide for any clarification.

 

[MUSION]

I notice it a lot, but it doesn't really bug me (I'll usually just write them off as a little dim :D). Sure it's incorrect, when what they mean is that they couldn't care less, but at the end of the day I know what they meant and that's all that matters XD