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What does the phrase "I could care less," really mean? When I look at it I think that it refers to an expression of indifference, but many people use it when they're implying that they don't care. I've never been quite sure about this and wanted to know if anyone knows the original meaning of the phrase. Thank you!

Lilith Hope
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3 Answers3

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It is an informal version, mainly used in AmE

I could care less (phrase US informal)(also I couldn't care less)

used to emphasize rudely that you are not interested in or worried about something or someone.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

user 66974
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It's an example of "Negation by Association", as I once called it in print.
The French negative particle pas is normally preceded by the overt negative ne,

  • Je ne sais pas. "I don't know"

with both words together officially conveying negation; but pas (which originally meant 'step; bit') is often used for negation all by itself, having gained a negative flavor by being in the same sentences with ne so often. It's sort of like eating a lot of garlic.

  • Pas de fumer "No smoking".

Could care less is similarly imbued with a negative flavor, as is could give a damn/a shit,
all of which are NPIs.

  • I could care less (about X) = "I don't care (about X)"
  • I could give a damn (about X) = "I don't care (about X)"

Note that these English negative idioms are all associated with the English verb care, and with the English modal could. It is perhaps not surprising that a modal is involved with a set of negative idioms. Modals match with negatives like rice matches with vegetables.

John Lawler
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    Us East-pondians really don't understand what West-pondians are angling at when they say "I could give a damn/care less" (or at least the first few times for each). Hasn't reached over here yet, properly and still kicks me in the funny bone. Do you know of any such negation by association examples (that also occur) in BrE? – Araucaria - Him Nov 16 '22 at 22:37
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    @Araucaria-Nothereanymore. Frankly, my dear, I do give a damn. That sort of thing is as confusing to me as it is to you folks. I don't recall ever hearing it when I was myself a child some threescore years ago, and I seem to’ve held too little converse with later generations’ children to notice this solecism cropping and creeping up on me. – tchrist Nov 17 '22 at 00:38
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    It's just what I grew up listening to. You want weird? I also grew up listening to So don't I, which is also mentioned in the paper. – John Lawler Nov 17 '22 at 14:37
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It's a misspoken way of saying "I don't care."

The correct expression is "I could NOT care less." That is an exclamation that exaggerates "I don't care" into "I care not at all", "I could not care less than nothing", etc.

"I could care less" is lazy and incorrect. Unless someone is trying to be clever and saying "I care a little bit more than nothing."

user8356
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