could care less
Does not care about something at all. The phrase is a colloquial version of "could not care less." Fine, I could care less what you do! Good riddance! You're going out with my ex-boyfriend? Great. I could care less. I'm always skeptical when people claim they "could care less" about something. In my experience, they usually care a great deal but don't want anyone to know.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
(I) could(n't) care less.
Inf. It doesn't matter to me. (The less bears the heaviest stress in both versions. Despite the apparent contradiction, either reading of this—both the affirmative and negative—usually have the same meaning. The exception would be in a sentence where the could bears the heaviest stress: I COULD care less, [but I don't.].) Tom: The rain is coming! The carpet will get wet! Mary: I couldn't care less. Bill: I'm going to go in there and tell off the boss? John: I could care less.
could(n't) care less
[one is] unable to care at all; it does not matter at all. John couldn't care less whether he goes to the party or not. I could care less if I live or die.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
I could care less
verbMcGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.