Why do Americans say "I could care less"?

Question

When, I presume,  they really mean the  exact opposite - that they couldn't care less. 

I've often heard this said in American TV shows and films and it has never really made any sense to me. To say that one could care less suggests that one does care to some degree, whereas to say that one couldn't care less states a total lack of interest.

Penela · Accepted Answer

I've got no bloody idea.  It makes me CRINGE.  My husband's family are Americans and I have corrected the children, so the next generation of his family is safe from making that embarrassing error

I can't even see why there is even a dispute, it's really very simple:

I could care less = I care somewhat.
I couldn't care less = I don't care one tiny little bit (which is what people are trying to say)

? · Answer

This dispute has been going on for a long time now:
http://articles.boston.com/2010-10-24/lifestyle/29303907_1_care-peeves-decades

Mark · Answer

It means basically the same thing, but I'll type slowly, so you can read it.  "I Could Care Less" is short for "I Could Care Less, But That Takes Too Much Energy".

? · Answer

because they couldn't care less about the world

? · Answer

original i couldn't care less the 't was later dropped

Anonymous · Answer

Because we're ignorant to grammar.

Malkiin · Answer

for the same reason brits say bloody hell

Anonymous · Answer

It's called dialect - do you have it?

Why do Americans say "I could care less"?

8 Answers