I could care less

[Paint_It_Black]

"I could care less" has to be one of the most ridiculous phrases ever. The actual words mean the exact opposite of the intent.

So, did this phrase start out as "I couldn't care less" and just get warped by idiots? Or is it perhaps meant to be "Like I could care less" or "As if I could care less"? Any of these make sense, yet I only ever see and hear people use the absolutely retarded "I could care less".

How has something so stupid reached such widespread usage?

[H1T_That]

How has something so stupid reached such widespread usage?

The terrible way of the internet children.

[DeAtHsTaR]

I've wondered this question for years now.

[HornyPope]

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8581/caring0lyxm0.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Mota Boy]

Sounds vaguely like an eggcorn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggcorn).

[JohnnyNemesis]

It's one of those annoying things that ultimately don't matter enough for me to give a shit.

[H1T_That]

Sounds vaguely like an eggcorn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggcorn).

"("old-timer's disease" for "Alzheimer's disease"). "

This made me laugh.

[ilovellamas]

[QUOTE=Paint_It_Black;887927]So, did this phrase start out as "I couldn't care less" and just get warped by idiots? Or is it perhaps meant to be "Like I could care less" or "As if I could care less"? Any of these make sense, yet I only ever see and hear people use the absolutely retarded "I could care less".[\QUOTE]

God, I love you to the greatest degree. It is a composite of "I couldn't care less" and "As if I could care less". Idiots just simpify things and don't think about the fact that it stops making sense. I've always said, "I couldn't care less", and have become VERY annoyed when people say it wrong. I still correct people because it's fucking ridiculous to keep saying something that makes no sense. People have tried correcting ME in the past for "couldn't", because it's not common... then I tell them they're morons and they pull the "well I don't even really care" shit.

[Sunny]

It's a maaaajor pet peeve of mine. arg arg arg.

[Paint_It_Black]

It's one of those annoying things that ultimately don't matter enough for me to give a shit.

Well yeah, but

It's a maaaajor pet peeve of mine. arg arg arg.

I feel the same as Sunny.

God, I love you to the greatest degree.

Not as much as Thibault does. He made a thread about it.

[coke_a_holic]

Not as much as Thibault does. He made a thread about it.

Make 2 lovethreads, that'll show Thibault who's REALLY lovin' Richard!

[T-6005]

I could care less. But I don't, since I care a lot.

Correct ftw!

[0r4ng3]

"I could care less" is one of those phrases that you just hear the sequence of words and immediately think of what it's commonly interpreted as. If someone (like you have) really stopped to think about it, they would think it was completely retarded.

[T-6005]

"I could care less" is one of those phrases that you just hear the sequence of words and immediately think of what it's commonly interpreted as. If someone (like you have) really stopped to think about it, they would think it was completely retarded.

Jesse, I hate to point this out, but you just repeated the topic of the thread.

I could care less, I guess, but then I wouldn't have commented on it.

[arak0r]

I couldn't care more. Less? could? WTF :(

[Paint_It_Black]

"I could care less" is one of those phrases that you just hear the sequence of words and immediately think of what it's commonly interpreted as. If someone (like you have) really stopped to think about it, they would think it was completely retarded.

For once I'm truly not sure if you were joking, but I lol'd anyway.

Jesse's narration ftw.

[Paint_It_Black]

Make 2 lovethreads, that'll show Thibault who's REALLY lovin' Richard!

So basically it's all your fault then.

[Autonomist]

I was about to reply stating that I didn't see the problem with the phase, but then I noticed I'd been reading it wrong and there was no "n't" on the end of could.

I had never heard "I could care less" until now though. Is it a new trend or something?

[0r4ng3]

For once I'm truly not sure if you were joking, but I lol'd anyway.

Jesse's narration ftw.
That was...um...I don't even know. I'll call it a half-joke.

[Sinister]

Sounds vaguely like an eggcorn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggcorn).
It's a maaaajor pet peeve of mine. arg arg arg.
Eggcorns irritate me to no end as well, especially since English is my second language and I don't have any trouble with them myself, so one would expect native speakers wouldn't either.

[no_way]

I only heard this phrase in a Green Day song. I'd say that it's Jesus of Suburbia, but I'm not sure... ANYHOW, I've never heard it or read it spoken, so can't say much. Although it IS a stupid phrase imo

[Amazed]

I've always said "I couldn't care less" and I got very confused when I noticed that most people say "I could care less". Like you said, it doesn't make any sense.

[Mannen som blev en gris]

That phrase has always confused me... Maybe I just suck at ze language. =(


Although I'm pretty sure I don't. But I could care less, anyway. Or maybe I couldn't. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[Amazed]

That phrase has always confused me... Maybe I just suck at ze language. =(


Although I'm pretty sure I don't. But I could care less, anyway. Or maybe I couldn't. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Do even realize how awesome you are sometimes?

*worships Mannen som blev en gris*

[Mannen som blev en gris]

Yes, I do.

[Amazed]

Yes, I do.

Good .

[All About Eve]

I've always said "I couldn't care less"
Same here. I even go as far to say could not sometimes.

[no_way]

I've always said "I couldn't care less"

Well that's what smart people tend to do actually

[0r4ng3]

I think I remember what I was trying to say yesterday in this thread. "I could care less" is just a phrase we gave a meaning to, regardless of what the words might mean. Take, for exapmle "I don't give a rat's ass". Who would give the ass of a rat, even if they did care?

[no_way]

Well that's called an "expression" or an "idiom". When you say to someone "Break a leg", you don't want them to break a leg, you just want to wish them luck. Same with "don't give a fuck", who would give a fuck, whatever that means? The word "asshole", using for disgusting people sometimes. You're just a bad person, you're not the hole you've got in the ass.

But that's modern methaphoric language

[0r4ng3]

Actually, "break a leg" has some meaning to it. Actors and stage performers consider it bad luck when someone wishes them well before a performance. That's why, in a way, "break a leg" is telling them "good luck".

I see what you mean with those other examples, though.

[calichix]

I always thought it was, "I couldn't care less."

[ilovellamas]

A little behind the times, are we?

[Tizzalicious]

I always thought it was, "I couldn't care less."

Me too.

And from this thread I can't make out what it's actually supposed to be. I'm just very confused now.

[ilovellamas]

When one usually states "I could care less", they usually mean "I could not care less". [e.g. "I could care less about linguistics."]

In order for one to "care less" about a subject, they must first care about it somewhat. Saying "I could care less about ... " does indeed imply, nay dictate, that there is some degree of care.

And for those of you who still don't get it (*cough* tizz):

http://incompetech.com/Images/caring.png

[Tizzalicious]

riiiiight.

so it both works but in different situations?

[ilovellamas]

well... really, "I could care less" would work if you wanted to tell someone that you care about something. But if you cared, why would you say it like that? Here's a description/history from dictionary.com that might help:

The expression I could not care less originally meant 'it would be impossible for me to care less than I do because I do not care at all'. It was originally a British saying and came to the US in the 1950s. It is senseless to transform it into the now-common I could care less. If you could care less, that means you care at least a little. The original is quite sarcastic and the other form is clearly nonsense. The inverted form I could care less was coined in the US and is found only here, recorded in print by 1966. The question is, something caused the negative to vanish even while the original form of the expression was still very much in vogue and available for comparison - so what was it? There are other American English expressions that have a similar sarcastic inversion of an apparent sense, such as Tell me about it!, which usually means 'Don't tell me about it, because I know all about it already'. The Yiddish I should be so lucky!, in which the real sense is often 'I have no hope of being so lucky', has a similar stress pattern with the same sarcastic inversion of meaning as does I could care less.

[Tizzalicious]

Alright, thanks! I get it now.

[Paint_It_Black]

I always thought it was, "I couldn't care less."

Yes, this is what it should be.

[calichix]

the caring continuum made my toes curl. <3

[randman21]

I've always said "I couldn't care less". I remember when many people that I know said it.

[Nina]

Why dont we all confess how we've always just said "I couldnt care less"? Wouldnt that be fun.

[randman21]

The point was that people I know used to say it, but no one does anymore.

[ilovellamas]

Why dont we all confess how we've always just said "I couldnt care less"? Wouldnt that be fun.

Haven't you always said "I couldn't care less"? Because if not, I don't even know you.