couldn't care less

couldn't care less

Does not care about something at all. Fine, I couldn't care less what you do! Good riddance! You're going out with my ex-boyfriend? Great. I couldn't care less.
See also: care, less
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

couldn't care less

Also, could care less. Be completely indifferent. For example, Pick whatever dessert you want; I couldn't care less, or I could care less about the editor's opinion . This expression originated about 1940 in Britain and for a time invariably used couldn't. About 1960 could was occasionally substituted, and today both versions are used with approximately equal frequency, despite their being antonyms.
See also: care, less
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

couldn’t care ˈless

(informal) used to say, often rudely, that you are not at all interested in or concerned about something: I couldn’t care less if I fail my exams — I don’t want to go to college anyway.
See also: care, less
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

I could(n’t) care less

sent. I don’t care!; I don’t care to the maximum amount, and it is, therefore, impossible to care any less. (The affirmative version does not make sense, but is widely used, nonetheless.) So you’re late. I couldn’t care less.
See also: care, less
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

couldn't care less, he/I/she

It doesn’t matter one bit; describing total indifference. The term originated in Great Britain, probably in the late 1930s, and was very popular by the 1940s. It not only expressed bored indifference but, during World War II, bravado. An informal history of civilian ferry pilots during the war by Anthony Phelps was entitled I Couldn’t Care Less (1946). In the mid-1960s the term was unaccountably changed by some Americans to I could care less, possibly influenced by the locution I should care, also meaning “I don’t care.” It, too, is now a cliché. Another variation recorded by Eric Partridge was I couldn’t care fewer, which, however, was short-lived.
See also: care, he, she
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • I couldn’t care less
  • couldn't care less, he/I/she
  • I could care less
  • could care less
  • see what I care
  • ICCL
  • see if I care
  • See if I care!
  • take care of
  • take care of someone
References in periodicals archive
I couldn't care less. People will say I'm not a good role model, I am always swearing and will ask: 'Why won't he be more of a gentleman?
Haye ready to fight till death with Klitschko
The trouble with these footballers is that they think their lives affect us, whereas in fact, we couldn't care less what they "allegedly" do in their spare time!
Inshort
A change in name is easy, and the white folks couldn't care less. But each superficial new identity is short-lived.
A closet Negro comes out
And if you disapprove of cigarette smoking and couldn't care less about kids, you can attack ads aimed at adults by claiming to act on behalf of children.
The children's hour
She's a 32-year-old woman with a new baby who's still pulling her weight with a load of fairly tedious royal duties so I couldn't care less if she wore her barnet dyed red in dreadlocks.
Don't slate Kate for bad heir day
How sad that we have a government which couldn't care less. They couldn't care less because they and their children live on the fat of the land.
It's a disgrace; You Say Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk
MARTIN O'Neill has defi-antly defended his reputation for leaving signings until late in the transfer window, roaring: "I couldn't care less what people think."
0'NEILL: I WON'T RUSH DEALS; Villa boss defends his late window shopping: Martin: I'm happy to leave it late
All this guff chief executives come out with about globalisation and remaining competitive are just excuses to hike up profits, and they couldn't care less about the social consequences in this country.
Job's worth; Yourview
I'm afraid the European Union couldn't care less about British justice.
The EU doesn't care about British justice; VOICE OF THE NORTH
Yet it's likely the ordinary public couldn't care less as long as there are enough bobbies to keep our streets free of crime.
Editorial comment Asking for too much
I will not be weaker, I can promise you, and the players couldn't care less about it.
Football: I won't be forced out says manager
He feels they're destined for each other; she couldn't care less. Suddenly she starts to dabble in a relationship with him and falls head over heels in lust, but then insists on keeping the relationship unconsummated.
Doing It
Here I was, flying high above a red state, and my macho paragliding instructor couldn't care less if I was gay or not.
The politics of change
However, you get the impression that the Aussie couldn't care less whether he wins or loses and you would prefer guaranteed effort for your money.
Snooker: Indifferent Hann may fire
THE President's lyrics, says the Countryside Alliance, cut to the very heart of the hunting debate: ``The Hunt Saboteurs Know nothing about country life They just love to fuss and fight So don't believe the hype, that's right They couldn't care less about you and me And if the farmers couldn't feed the society wouldn't eat You see it's all a part of God's plan Who do you think was appointed the Gatekeeper of the Countryside land?
Lyrics of Balance