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> couldn't care less is the phrasing that invokes an expression of maximum indifference Merriam-Webster asserts both phrasings are equivalent since at least th

• olyjohn 4y ago
  Say you had a list of items, sorted by how much you care about them... If you could not care less about an item on that list, that means that it's literally the last thing you would put on list of things you care about. Nothing can be cared about less than this item. Though you could have multiple things at the bottom of your care list, that you don't care about equally. So you can not care less about multiple items on that list. If you can care less about an item, then there are things on the list that are lower that you do care less about. Making this item not the thing you care about the least. In fact, the item you care about the most... you could care less than that.
• alexsb92 4y ago
  I'm not sure if that's what it says. The way I read it "could care less" was used in the 1800s but with the negation in another part of the sentence. Modern usage simply omits it.
  • jwilk 4y ago
    That's what the article says, but I can't see negation in the 1865 example: > His bearing towards male acquaintances, of whom he knew little or nothing and could care less, was marked by an affectation of gushing friendliness, which overdid itself.