Why do Americans say "Could care less" ?

[Akagi]

I say "that'll learn them" but when I say it I am very aware that it is incorrect.

 

[RetiredGreyFox]

Whatever they say it can't be as bas as Brits saying could have, would have, should have, must have or people typing ect

 

[Threepwood]

But "that'll learn them" is grammatically correct!

 

[Diddums]

When people say "brought" instead of "bought", I want to stab a kitten.

 

[smokedog]

"Lucked out" means the exact opposite in the UK.

 

[Dirkscooby]

I notice a lot of people say somethink, and everythink. Really winds me up.

 

[olivier renault]

Because they can. And you can't do nothing about it.

 

[spoffle]

OP, why do you put spaces before question marks and other punctuation? I'm sure you say/type "would have" and its variants too.

I do find "could care less" quite annoying, especially when you hear it in big budget movies, because you then know that no one has realised that was wrong.

I find "write/wrote me/you" particularly annoying as it doesn't make any sense.

 

[FunkyCowie]

Because America.

'MERICA

You are saying that wrong...

Because 'murica!

 

[spoffle]

It is not tinged with sarcasm?

They could not care less but are saying they could.

Makes sense if so.

I've heard this as an excuse before. I don't buy it though, it seemed to be an example of "I know I meant this based on your response" sort of thing.

American's don't really do sarcasm.

American's what?

Because they can. And you can't do nothing about it.

I'm just sitting here not doing nothing.

 

[Threepwood]

I've heard this as an excuse before. I don't buy it though, it seemed to be an example of "I know I meant this based on your response" sort of thing.

Think more of how the saying could have originally broken off from its true form while still meaning the same thing.

I cannot think of another way 'could care less' could mean 'couldn't care less'.

Whether someone uses it sarcastically with intention is different to using an inherently sarcastic remark to simply mean what it means. Hard to explain, the rum is flowing now

 

[pooley]

'My bad'

 

[Rroff]

Heard it used a fair bit in the UK it isn't specifically US.

 

[pooley]

No doubt came from the US.

 

[RetiredGreyFox]

I'm just sitting here not doing nothing.

If you are not doing nothing what are you doing?

 

[sigma]

If you are not doing nothing what are you doing?

Sitting?

 

[Slobbo]

It's sarcasm obviously.

Surprised such an educated lot are having trouble comprehending.

 

[spoffle]

Think more of how the saying could have originally broken off from its true form while still meaning the same thing.

I cannot think of another way 'could care less' could mean 'couldn't care less'.

Whether someone uses it sarcastically with intention is different to using an inherently sarcastic remark to simply mean what it means. Hard to explain, the rum is flowing now

I think it's from people not hearing something properly without any thought given to what they're actually saying.

In the same category as "taken for granite", "blessing in the skies" or even "lack toast and tolerant".

I think it's literally got nothing to do with sarcasm at all, and everything to do with talking without thought. Especially since "I couldn't care less" has quite sarcastic undertones in itself.

If you are not doing nothing what are you doing?

I'm not doing nothing

It's sarcasm obviously.

Surprised such an educated lot are having trouble comprehending.

Why is it obviously sarcasm?

 

[RetiredGreyFox]

I'm not doing nothing

So what are you doing?

or did you mean to say 'I'm doing nothing'?

 

[spoffle]

So what are you doing?

or did you mean to say 'I'm doing nothing'?

I'm not doing nothing!