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Pastimes : Clown-Free Zone... sorry, no clowns allowed
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To: Jorj X Mckie who wrote (9465)8/8/2000 5:43:55 PM
From: Oblomov  Read Replies (3) of 436258
 
Actually, the correct (or, at least, original) phrasing is "could care less". The phrase was meant to be used sarcastically, as if a topic was so petty or frivolous that one "could care less" if one so chose. It was meant as a subtle implication that one's debating opponent had lost his or her cool by becoming indignant. But sometime in the mid 20th century the literalist grammarians came along and ruined everything by insisting upon the literal, but inaccurate, "couldn't care less".

From what I can tell, Monty's usage was entirely correct.

(see the entry in Fowler, MEU)
Your caped Avenger of English Usage,
Oblomov
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