a phrase that angers prescriptivists. apparently people hate this idiom because it means the exact opposite of what it means if you take it literally. but that's the problem, you're taking idioms literally and expecting them to be logical. that's not how idioms work.
person 1: i could care less
person 2: you mean "i couldn't care less"? "i could care less" means that you do care to some extent. learn english lul
person 1: apparently you do not know how idioms work.
person 2: it's not an idiom it's a phrase made up by the uneducated english speakers who don't know how to speak their language lululul my variety of language is clearly superior to others
person 1: ok prescriptivist
person 2: you mean "i couldn't care less"? "i could care less" means that you do care to some extent. learn english lul
person 1: apparently you do not know how idioms work.
person 2: it's not an idiom it's a phrase made up by the uneducated english speakers who don't know how to speak their language lululul my variety of language is clearly superior to others
person 1: ok prescriptivist
by Crihn Bowonib May 6, 2021
Get the could care lessmug. This means I dont care. If someone takes this phrase in the literal sense, then they will ask you "Do you mean I couldn't care less? However, the speaker of the phrase fully understands the meaning as, I dont care.
Michael: How do you feel about religion?
Paul: I could care less.
Michael:Do you mean you couldn't care less.
Paul:Yes but in the general sense I mean that I dont care.
Paul: I could care less.
Michael:Do you mean you couldn't care less.
Paul:Yes but in the general sense I mean that I dont care.
by Princeoftheheavenlyhosts October 23, 2015
Get the I could care lessmug. According to most people, a stupid phrase that means the opposite of what's intended.
According to a few people, a sarcastic way to say you really couldn't care less.
Probably what was originally intended is a phrase like "I could give a shit," just a little more subtle than "I don't give a shit." Or "I could give a damn." So they could care less, but they still don't care.
According to a few people, a sarcastic way to say you really couldn't care less.
Probably what was originally intended is a phrase like "I could give a shit," just a little more subtle than "I don't give a shit." Or "I could give a damn." So they could care less, but they still don't care.
Melissa: But we have to hurry back or we'll miss the final of American Idol!
Sam: I could care less about that, just as long as we don't miss Glee!
Sam: I could care less about that, just as long as we don't miss Glee!
by Olypoly June 29, 2011
Get the I could care lessmug. A sarcastic phrase meaning "as if I could care less about this."
Stupid people often complain about this phrase, insisting that "I couldn't care less" should be used instead. This is because they fail to realize that "I could care less" is an appropriate and historically popular idiom that dates back to the 1960s.
The very same morons will probably tell you, "But if you could care less, that means you actually cared about it at least a little bit in the first place." That is because the sarcasm is lost on them. Should you hear this, just smile and enjoy knowing that you are speaking to someone of low intelligence.
Stupid people often complain about this phrase, insisting that "I couldn't care less" should be used instead. This is because they fail to realize that "I could care less" is an appropriate and historically popular idiom that dates back to the 1960s.
The very same morons will probably tell you, "But if you could care less, that means you actually cared about it at least a little bit in the first place." That is because the sarcasm is lost on them. Should you hear this, just smile and enjoy knowing that you are speaking to someone of low intelligence.
Pete: "Did you hear? Jenny got AIDS!"
Reggie: "I could care less, man."
Pete: "Haha, you mean 'I couldn't care less.'"
Reggie: "No I don't. You're retarded."
Reggie: "I could care less, man."
Pete: "Haha, you mean 'I couldn't care less.'"
Reggie: "No I don't. You're retarded."
by derrickwayne June 9, 2011
Get the I could care lessmug. A way of checking on whether or not the person you're talking to is a fussy-prissy sort of person, or can actually pick up on sarcasm.
(A girl in an awful outfit walks by.)
"She looks **amazing**."
"I know. I love how **everything** she's wearing goes **perfectly** together."
(Someone talks about something nobody cares about.)
"**I could care less.**"
"Don't you mean, 'I couldn't care less.' ?"
"Sure. Hey, you know what? Your outfit is **fantastic**."
"Thanks!"
"She looks **amazing**."
"I know. I love how **everything** she's wearing goes **perfectly** together."
(Someone talks about something nobody cares about.)
"**I could care less.**"
"Don't you mean, 'I couldn't care less.' ?"
"Sure. Hey, you know what? Your outfit is **fantastic**."
"Thanks!"
by LovetteCher March 6, 2013
Get the I could care lessmug. An ironic, sarcastic, irreverent take on the original hyperbole, "I couldn't care less." Contrary to some opinions, there is nothing incorrect about this version. It's just a sarcastic reference to the original that, over time, became so commonplace that people forgot it was sarcastic.
I feel like I should say something supportive. The most I can muster is that I guess I could care less.
by The Yar February 12, 2018
Get the I could care lessmug. A sarcastic, ironic, irreverent take on the original phrase "couldn't care less." Just like with "couldn't care less," this phrase simply means that one does not care. In this case, it is intended as an ironic insult, since it prompts the other person to reason out that the only reason it would make sense to say "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less" is if they cared some and yet still extremely little. It's an insult delivered as a sarcastic compliment.
It's like if the TV is on really loud, and someone says, "can you turn it up?" That's a sarcastic comment on how loud it is. Just like "I could care less" is a sarcastic comment on how little you care.
Over time, it became so commonplace that people forgot it was sarcastic and just say it straight to mean "I don't care."
It's like if the TV is on really loud, and someone says, "can you turn it up?" That's a sarcastic comment on how loud it is. Just like "I could care less" is a sarcastic comment on how little you care.
Over time, it became so commonplace that people forgot it was sarcastic and just say it straight to mean "I don't care."
by The Yar February 13, 2018
Get the Could care lessmug.