I've always heard it as "I could care less". I think it developed from a longer phrase, for example "As if I could care less" or something like that. A google search for ["i could care less" etymology] came up with lots and lots of articles and discussions, but many of them are pretty heavy reading. Here's a good one, though, which gives some other examples of similar nonsensical English phrases.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-i-...-less-mean.htm

That's how I've always known it to be used as well.

I'm debating posting entirely in Hick from now on.

Go for it See if we can can read it.
Trying to read a post from someone who uses text speak is bad enough it gives me a head ache

I thought you already were.








You know I love you.

I've diluted my accent on BE so the English can understand me. I'm talking about going full on Craigslist Redneck.

Are you gonna say thing like cattywampus and wallered out?

I had to look those up

If this continues then I'm going to have to start speaking Norn Irn, and then you'll all be up to your oxters in muck and gleur.

I also like "beat the tar out of you"

Yes - though it is often pronounced as 'bait the tore oot a yee' - in some parts. Not by me though - I was always very well spoken don't you know . . .

Just this morning I heard a similar thing that always drives me nuts on the radio. The guy said, "Well, the proof will be in the pudding," causing me to yell back, "No, the proof of the pudding is IN THE EATING!" (Sorry, had to shout.) It's as if they think the proof is something hidden in the pudding -- like an old sixpence in the Christmas pud.

Yeah, a lot of them get shortened over time. I like "Happy as a clam" which used to be "happy as a clam at high tide"...which of course is when clams cannot be dug up by clam diggers.

It's a bit like 'money is the root of all evil" which should be "the love of money is the root of all evil"

'I could care less' does my nut in. I have never posted on this site before but this is the subject that has drawn me out of my lurking. I take it you've all seen this 100 times already:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw

Hehe, thanks everyone, that's quite enlightening. I'l send my friend the link to this thread.