4 ms·

Does it really matter? I mean, few people will misunderstand that phrase, since it's used so often. Proper grammar is just a transitory convention; what's impor

• macrael 17y ago
  It doesn't matter, the phrase means what it means and when someone uses it, we are communicating. But I think that the issue is not one of grammar but of meaning. Saying you could care less is not grammatically incorrect, it just doesn't seem to mean what the sayer is usually trying to get across. My guess is that time has turned "I couldn't care less" to "I could care less" just by virtue of it being easier to say.
• chipsy 17y ago
  I've been trying to reduce my usage of idiomatic English lately so that I can communicate better with non-native users. "Couldn't care less" is a kind of idiom, in that a literal interpretation leads you to conclude the opposite of what is meant.
  • jarek 17y ago
    Eh? If I say "I couldn't care less about English grammar", in what interpretation does that mean I hold English grammar dear? If you use it right, it means what it says.
  • cubicle67 17y ago
    > leads you to conclude the opposite of what is meant huh? "I couldn't care less" =~ "The value of my caring is so low, no matter how I tried I couldn't make it lower". To me, the phrase and its intent are equivalent, not opposite
• donaq 17y ago
  It's just irritating because it makes no sense except when said in a sarcastic tone, which cannot be detected from text.