Why do Americans say they 'could care less'

Sparrow · 04-30-2009, 12:33 PM

when they mean they 'could not care less'?

daffy4u · 04-30-2009, 12:37 PM

Because we *could* care less but choose not to at that time.

HarryT · 04-30-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Because we *could* care less but choose not to at that time.

But doesn't that imply that you care quite a lot? Like Sparrow, I've always found that expression a little peculiar

.

daffy4u · 04-30-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

But doesn't that imply that you care quite a lot? Like Sparrow, I've always found that expression a little peculiar

.

No, it means I'm at about 30-40% on my "care-meter", so I still have room to care less. (You do know I'm just playing with you... right?)

HarryT · 04-30-2009, 01:21 PM

We have silly expressions too. One of the silliest, IMHO, is "it would be cheap at half the price". Whenever I hear that, my immediate reaction is to think "perhaps it would, but does that mean that it's cheap at its current price?". "Cheap at twice the price" would be more sensible

.

taosaur · 04-30-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

when they mean they 'could not care less'?

I'm thinking this phrase is grammar nazi-ism blowing up in our faces; people don't say 'couldn't care less' because it sets off their grammar school double-negative alarm.

Ultimately, it's just a cliche--they're applied imprecisely in situations that trip an associative link, and they're almost always detached and often reversed from their actual meaning.

DixieGal · 04-30-2009, 01:47 PM

I say "couldn't care less" and hear it both ways frequently.

My pet peeve is "can't hardly wait."

Taylor514ce · 04-30-2009, 01:49 PM

Not all do. Whenever I've used that expression, I say "couldn't care less". You often hear people say "could care less" simply out of ignorance, much as when I hear or see people use the expression "for all intensive purposes". If you try to correct them, "do you mean 'for all intents and purposes'?", the likely reaction is a blank look.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-30-2009, 01:50 PM

It's used either as a shorthand for "couldn't care less"... or simply as sarcasm.

krisk · 04-30-2009, 01:54 PM

because we are sloppy with our word usage (like many other things... and look at kris who does not capitalize in an informal forum

). there are numerous instances of this type of laziness... irregardless sets my teeth on edge.

DixieGal · 04-30-2009, 02:10 PM

Every TV show uses "I" and "me" incorrectly, and Fringe is one of the worst offenders. I sit there correcting their grammar all throughout the show.

That bugs me worse than misusing "who" and "whom."

vivaldirules · 04-30-2009, 02:17 PM

Another common word usage I dislike is "A, if not B". For example, what does it mean when someone says "The attorney's behaviour in the hearing was questionable, if not criminal"? Is the speaker trying to suggest that the behaviour fell short of being criminal? Or is he trying to insuate that it might be criminal without actually having to say so? Or is he confused with this word usage and he's really trying to say that it was criminal? I can never tell and, if I care, I have to question the speaker for his intent. I am finding no single intended meaning to be dominant for this construction.

ilovejedd · 04-30-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Another common word usage I dislike is "A, if not B". For example, what does it mean when someone says "The attorney's behaviour in the hearing was questionable, if not criminal"? Is the speaker trying to suggest that the behaviour fell short of being criminal? Or is he trying to insinuate that it might be criminal without actually having to say so? Or is he confused with this word usage and he's really trying to say that it was criminal? I can never tell and, if I care, I have to question the speaker for his intent. I am finding no single intended meaning to be dominant for this construction.

At least this one's still a valid structure. I'd say the speaker's trying to insinuate that it might be criminal. Keyword being might. He's not actually sure if it's criminal or not so he's trying to cover his behind by not saying it outright.

krisk · 04-30-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Another common word usage I dislike is "A, if not B". For example, what does it mean when someone says "The attorney's behaviour in the hearing was questionable, if not criminal"? Is the speaker trying to suggest that the behaviour fell short of being criminal? Or is he trying to insuate that it might be criminal without actually having to say so? Or is he confused with this word usage and he's really trying to say that it was criminal? I can never tell and, if I care, I have to question the speaker for his intent. I am finding no single intended meaning to be dominant for this construction.

doesn't someone else normally wear the dahlik? I'm confuzzled

Kirtai · 04-30-2009, 02:48 PM

I thought it was because it was it was meant to be spoken in a heavily sarcastic way i.e. "I could care less if I really, really tried" but people just got sloppy (and it doesn't transfer to writing well)

04-30-2009, 12:33 PM	#1
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Why do Americans say they 'could care less' when they mean they 'could not care less'?

04-30-2009, 01:54 PM	#10
krisk Wizard Posts: 2,148 Karma: 8229 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: on the road again Device: kindle	because we are sloppy with our word usage (like many other things... and look at kris who does not capitalize in an informal forum). there are numerous instances of this type of laziness... irregardless sets my teeth on edge.

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04-30-2009, 12:37 PM	#2
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Because we could care less but choose not to at that time.

04-30-2009, 01:21 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	We have silly expressions too. One of the silliest, IMHO, is "it would be cheap at half the price". Whenever I hear that, my immediate reaction is to think "perhaps it would, but does that mean that it's cheap at its current price?". "Cheap at twice the price" would be more sensible .

04-30-2009, 01:47 PM	#7
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I say "couldn't care less" and hear it both ways frequently. My pet peeve is "can't hardly wait."

04-30-2009, 01:49 PM	#8
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Not all do. Whenever I've used that expression, I say "couldn't care less". You often hear people say "could care less" simply out of ignorance, much as when I hear or see people use the expression "for all intensive purposes". If you try to correct them, "do you mean 'for all intents and purposes'?", the likely reaction is a blank look.

04-30-2009, 01:50 PM	#9
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	It's used either as a shorthand for "couldn't care less"... or simply as sarcasm.

04-30-2009, 02:10 PM	#11
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Every TV show uses "I" and "me" incorrectly, and Fringe is one of the worst offenders. I sit there correcting their grammar all throughout the show. That bugs me worse than misusing "who" and "whom."

04-30-2009, 02:17 PM	#12
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Another common word usage I dislike is "A, if not B". For example, what does it mean when someone says "The attorney's behaviour in the hearing was questionable, if not criminal"? Is the speaker trying to suggest that the behaviour fell short of being criminal? Or is he trying to insuate that it might be criminal without actually having to say so? Or is he confused with this word usage and he's really trying to say that it was criminal? I can never tell and, if I care, I have to question the speaker for his intent. I am finding no single intended meaning to be dominant for this construction.

04-30-2009, 02:48 PM	#15
Kirtai Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 2454436 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: PRS-505, PRS-650, iPad, Samsung Galaxy SII (JB), Google Nexus 7 (2013)	I thought it was because it was it was meant to be spoken in a heavily sarcastic way i.e. "I could care less if I really, really tried" but people just got sloppy (and it doesn't transfer to writing well)

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