“I could care less.�
Oh? You could? And here I was thinking you didn’t care at all. It’s good to know there is a possibility of you caring less and thus meaning you do care at least somewhat for what we’re talking about.
I believe the correct phrase, and what you meant, is: “I couldn’t care less.�
Just because they are my pet peeves doesn’t mean they can’t amuse me.
While, technically, this kind of statement is contextual and could work when it’s in the correct place, I have never once heard someone say, “I could care less� and mean it that way. What they are really going for is “I couldn’t care less�.
Am I the only one who laughs at people who act snooty and snarky and then go on to say something like, “I could care less�? Whenever someone says that to me, I very seriously and say, “That’s good to know, but I’m more concerned about you caring a bit more, not less.�
I am probably the only one who finds this funny, but that’s okay.
Honestly, I think it’s all a matter of herd mentality. The whole “LOL� thing, saying things – like irregardless – that are wrong or overdone can all probably be blamed on herd mentality. We pick up traits from the people we like, our family, and the media.
I can imagine someone standing up at this point and saying, “I could care less.�
(Please tell me someone out there is amused by this could/couldn’t care less thing as I am.)
Bottom line: Think about what you’re saying and what it truly means.