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> It was because they gave a shit. I did stop reading there. I was 100% convinced that this meant that they couldn't care less about what they were doing, yet

> It was because they gave a shit. I did stop reading there. I was 100% convinced that this meant that they couldn't care less about what they were doing, yet their homepage seemed to indicate that they'd give a lot of dedication to detail. In German "drauf scheißen" (to shit on something) means to not care at all about a given thing.

nmstoker 3y ago
You are misreading how this phrase is used! It means they do care. If they didn't give a shit that would mean they didn't care and this is the opposite.
sambeau 3y ago
It's not surprising. English has a load of this weirdness. We can, especially in American English, shit on something (normally an idea or plan for some reason) with the same meaning. "I don't mean to shit on your idea out of hand, but…" No doubt it's a direct import from the German.
- arrowsmith 3y ago
  We say this in the UK too. Also "to shit all over", e.g. "I didn't go see that movie because I read some reviews that shat all over it."
  - sambeau 3y ago
    I'm from the UK. Maybe I'm older, but I know these phrases as American imports.
lioeters 3y ago
The phrase exists in English too, "to shit on something". It means to talk bad about something, to criticize, to make it (or someone) look bad. I think "shit" in English is one of the most linguistically flexible words, used in various ways, from very positive ("It's the shit!") to negative ("It's shit") meanings. As another commenter said, the positive meaning of "shit" often seems to be the result of reversing a common phrase. "I don't give a shit" means I don't care at all, not even a shit; and later the opposite phrase started to be used, "I give a shit" to mean I do care about it. It's one of many confusing and illogical things about English.
- projektfu 3y ago
  Another one I found funny is we Americans usually say "He thinks he's hot shit" while the Brits say "He thinks he's shit hot." I feel the Brits had it the right way and the Americans oddly reversed it.
- deleted 3y ago
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bratwurst3000 3y ago
I think “shit” here is synonymous for “a little” or “something”. At least I give you anythin. But honestly shit and fuck can fill any English sentence.

nmstoker 3y ago

You are misreading how this phrase is used! It means they do care. If they didn't give a shit that would mean they didn't care and this is the opposite.

sambeau 3y ago

It's not surprising. English has a load of this weirdness. We can, especially in American English, shit on something (normally an idea or plan for some reason) with the same meaning. "I don't mean to shit on your idea out of hand, but…" No doubt it's a direct import from the German.

arrowsmith 3y ago
We say this in the UK too. Also "to shit all over", e.g. "I didn't go see that movie because I read some reviews that shat all over it."
- sambeau 3y ago
  I'm from the UK. Maybe I'm older, but I know these phrases as American imports.

lioeters 3y ago

The phrase exists in English too, "to shit on something". It means to talk bad about something, to criticize, to make it (or someone) look bad. I think "shit" in English is one of the most linguistically flexible words, used in various ways, from very positive ("It's the shit!") to negative ("It's shit") meanings. As another commenter said, the positive meaning of "shit" often seems to be the result of reversing a common phrase. "I don't give a shit" means I don't care at all, not even a shit; and later the opposite phrase started to be used, "I give a shit" to mean I do care about it. It's one of many confusing and illogical things about English.

projektfu 3y ago
Another one I found funny is we Americans usually say "He thinks he's hot shit" while the Brits say "He thinks he's shit hot." I feel the Brits had it the right way and the Americans oddly reversed it.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

bratwurst3000 3y ago

I think “shit” here is synonymous for “a little” or “something”. At least I give you anythin. But honestly shit and fuck can fill any English sentence.