Americans say 'I could care less'?

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gillri

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#1 gillri
Member since 2004 • 5926 Posts

I just realised that Americans us the expression 'i could care less' when they are less than interested in something

whether us english say 'I couldn't care less'

I mean im not having a go but the American way doesnt make any sense if you are supposed to be expressing zero interest in a particular subject

or is that even what Americans are trying to say when they use their version of this expression ?

I

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clock_of_omens

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#2 clock_of_omens
Member since 2005 • 5595 Posts
i know ive noticed that before its pretty annoying
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gobo212

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#3 gobo212
Member since 2003 • 6277 Posts
It doesn't make sense but that's the way it goes.
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FragStains

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#4 FragStains
Member since 2003 • 20668 Posts

I say I couldn't care less.

I'm an American.

Hypothesis failed.

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blackngold29

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#5 blackngold29
Member since 2004 • 14137 Posts

I say I couldn't care less.

I'm an American.

Hypothesis failed.

FragStains
Me too.
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iwokojance

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#6 iwokojance
Member since 2005 • 1040 Posts

i know ive noticed that before its pretty annoyingclock_of_omens

Me too, though it doesn't annoy me so much...I just thought about the grammar and make a conscious effort to not say that. But yeah, I think it's weird. There's a lot of incorrect grammar used in colloquial American Engrish.

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King-Arsenal

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#7 King-Arsenal
Member since 2007 • 744 Posts
yh it really does annoy me! i feel like telling everyone who does it
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soldier-dark

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#8 soldier-dark
Member since 2005 • 5909 Posts
I think it's meant to be sarcasm. But anyways, I say couldn't.
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LJS9502_basic

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#9 LJS9502_basic
Member since 2003 • 180203 Posts

Nope. We say I couldn't care less....only a few use I could care less....:roll:

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Hoobinator

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#10 Hoobinator
Member since 2006 • 6899 Posts

It's part of "American English" ;)

When English doesn't suit you..... americanize it.

This guy seems to have a good idea of what he's talking about, nice critique of the uses of certain american phrases.

From the above commentary:

"It seems to have reached the US some time in the 1950s and to have become popular in the latter part of that decade. The inverted form I could care less was coined in the US and is found only there. It may have begun to be used in the early 1960s, though it turns up in a written form only in 1966.

Why it lost its negative has been much discussed. It's clear that the process is different from the shift in meaning that took place with cheap at half the price. In that case, the inversion was due to a mistaken interpretation of its meaning, as has happened, for example, with beg the question."

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south411

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#11 south411
Member since 2006 • 2136 Posts

I say I couldn't care less.

I'm an American.

Hypothesis failed.

FragStains
same
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ayanami_rei

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#12 ayanami_rei
Member since 2005 • 17115 Posts
I say "I couldn't care less" and I'm from the United States. o.O
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CreepingDeath_

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#13 CreepingDeath_
Member since 2007 • 3342 Posts
Aren't they opposites?
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footfoe2

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#14 footfoe2
Member since 2007 • 3014 Posts

"I could care less" meaning i could care less if i tryed but i couldn't care less

Bam thats what us americans mean when we say that

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footfoe2

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#15 footfoe2
Member since 2007 • 3014 Posts

"I could care less" meaning i could care less if i tryed but i couldn't care less

Bam thats what us americans mean when we say that

footfoe2
yep thats it, the real reason is american are lazy leaving out a few lettes like the u in color and leaving out the n't in i couldnt care less thats just how lazy we are
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maccer101

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#16 maccer101
Member since 2005 • 4257 Posts

good for them not caring less

abiding by the rules pffffft....

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DivergeUnify

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#17 DivergeUnify
Member since 2007 • 15150 Posts
I say I couldn't care less and I'm American, but I realize a bunch of people say I could care less.
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-TheSecondSign-

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#18 -TheSecondSign-
Member since 2007 • 9303 Posts

Its just the way people say it. At least it's better than the other kinds of inproper english we have here.

Trust me.

Come to my hometown. You will feel like your brain was sexually assaulted with a wrench.

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dackchaar

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#19 dackchaar
Member since 2005 • 3668 Posts
I could care less what you say
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krazykillaz

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#20 krazykillaz
Member since 2002 • 21141 Posts
I say couldn't. I used to say could until I actually thought about it.
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pintabear49blue

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#21 pintabear49blue
Member since 2007 • 4809 Posts
I always hear it :I couldn't care less. I am from the US.
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SolidSnake35

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#22 SolidSnake35
Member since 2005 • 58971 Posts
Yeah, I notice a lot of people do that. It grinds my gears. :evil:
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GabuEx

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#23 GabuEx
Member since 2006 • 36552 Posts
As far as I can tell, it's just an English mistake that gets propogated by repetition, kind of like "irregardless".
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-TheSecondSign-

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#24 -TheSecondSign-
Member since 2007 • 9303 Posts

Besides, it's not like we're the only ones to rape English.

British slang is even more darn annoying.

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Hoobinator

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#25 Hoobinator
Member since 2006 • 6899 Posts

Besides, it's not like we're the only ones to rape English.

British slang is even more darn annoying.

-TheSecondSign-

'Wot, you wanna come round 'ere and say dat. I'll ******* bang yer.

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blackngold29

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#26 blackngold29
Member since 2004 • 14137 Posts
As far as I can tell, it's just an English mistake that gets propogated by repetition, kind of like "irregardless".GabuEx
It would appear he has misunderestimated us Americans.
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LLCoolKo

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#27 LLCoolKo
Member since 2005 • 794 Posts

It is just the retarded and illiterate bunch who say that.

Also when people confuse the words "then" and "than".

eg. "I am better then you" when it should say "I am better than you".

RETARDS.

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darkfox101

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#28 darkfox101
Member since 2004 • 7055 Posts
I think it's meant for "sarcasm", but I never use it even if im american
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-TheSecondSign-

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#29 -TheSecondSign-
Member since 2007 • 9303 Posts
[QUOTE="-TheSecondSign-"]

Besides, it's not like we're the only ones to rape English.

British slang is even more darn annoying.

Hoobinator

'Wot, you wanna come round 'ere and say dat. I'll ******* bang yer.

lol huh?

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mrbojangles25

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#30 mrbojangles25
Member since 2005 • 60828 Posts

I say I couldn't care less.

I'm an American.

Hypothesis failed.

FragStains

ya I say correctly too.

Another thing we are guilty of saying is "Ive got" which is redundant. "I've" works perfectly fine, why add the "got" in there.

"I've got something in my front pocket for you"

versus

"I've something in my front pocket for you"

but its funny because I try to say "Ive" on its own and it sounds so wrong say I just say "Ive got". I will be honest though when I am chilling with my friends I dont watch my grammar, but when I am in front of coworkers and on job interviews or anyone who is essentially a superior I do.

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darkfox101

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#31 darkfox101
Member since 2004 • 7055 Posts

It is just the retarded and illiterate bunch who say that.

Also when people confuse the words "then" and "than".

eg. "I am better then you" when it should say "I am better than you".

RETARDS.

LLCoolKo
I could care less.
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SolidSnake35

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#32 SolidSnake35
Member since 2005 • 58971 Posts
It is just the retarded and illiterate bunch who say that. Also when people confuse the words "then" and "than". eg. "I am better then you" when it should say "I am better than you".LLCoolKo
That didn't make no sense.
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outbreak201

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#33 outbreak201
Member since 2005 • 8372 Posts
Generalization British people FTL
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Dreams-Visions

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#35 Dreams-Visions
Member since 2006 • 26578 Posts

:)

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Shiggums

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#36 Shiggums
Member since 2007 • 21436 Posts

whether us english say 'I couldn't care less'

gillri

don't you mean "while us english say 'I couldn't care less'"?

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SolidSnake35

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#37 SolidSnake35
Member since 2005 • 58971 Posts

[QUOTE="SolidSnake35"][QUOTE="LLCoolKo"]It is just the retarded and illiterate bunch who say that. Also when people confuse the words "then" and "than". eg. "I am better then you" when it should say "I am better than you".LLCoolKo

That didn't make no sense.

Yes it did, now go back to jerking off over Harry Potter.

Cheers.

Haha. Well, since you're so excitable over grammar, I'd have thought you might've noticed my double negative. Effectively, I said it did make sense.
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footfoe2

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#38 footfoe2
Member since 2007 • 3014 Posts

if one is to say "i could care less" it Means I could care less if i wanted to But i couldn't care less!!!!

see that is logic for you, you brits can't think such complex thoughts HAHAHAHA king!
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The_Ish

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#39 The_Ish
Member since 2006 • 13913 Posts

I use both, and appropriately.

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Mercenary848

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#40 Mercenary848
Member since 2007 • 12143 Posts
I don't say either :| .
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RKfromDownunder

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#41 RKfromDownunder
Member since 2007 • 1463 Posts
[QUOTE="FragStains"]

I say I couldn't care less.

I'm an American.

Hypothesis failed.

blackngold29

Me too.

Hypothesis failed?

Sorry, kid, doesn't work like that.

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B05T0N

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#42 B05T0N
Member since 2007 • 7051 Posts
I say I could care less.
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deactivated-5f9e3c6a83e51

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#43 deactivated-5f9e3c6a83e51
Member since 2004 • 57548 Posts
Either way is fine with me. I understand what is trying to be expressed.
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MattUD1

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#44 MattUD1
Member since 2004 • 20715 Posts
Look out, it's the grammar Nazi!
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madmidnight

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#45 madmidnight
Member since 2004 • 2066 Posts

Generalizing FTW? I'm American and I say I couldn't careless.

Here is an example: I couldn't care less about this thread.

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AndrewStar101

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#46 AndrewStar101
Member since 2005 • 800 Posts
I'm an American and I say I could care less, and you know what I think about this topic? I COULD CARE LESS!
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smokeydabear076

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#47 smokeydabear076
Member since 2004 • 22109 Posts
I could care less.:|
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Immortalica

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#48 Immortalica
Member since 2008 • 6309 Posts
Yeah, I find it very annoying.
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smokeydabear076

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#49 smokeydabear076
Member since 2004 • 22109 Posts
Look out, it's the grammar Nazi!MattUD1
Oh noes. I couldn't care less.
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espoac

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#50 espoac
Member since 2005 • 4346 Posts
I find it rather amusing that my fellow Americans are somehow insulted by this. Has the realization of your poor sentence formation hurt your ego or something?