I always find it odd when people say that they "could care less". It's supposed to be "couldn't care less" to denote that a person is so unconcerned with whatever or whomever is the topic of their disdain that they are at the absolute bottom of their caring meter. By stating that you "could care less" you are asserting (incorrectly, I presume) that there is indeed the possibility of caring less than you care now, and does nothing to provide a point of reference for the listener. If you "could care less" then obviously you care somewhat. And if you care at least somewhat, then how much? And is it a lot or a little? Is it a reasonable amount, or a microscopic bit? Your (presumably incorrect) statement leaves me nothing to measure. I just don't get it!
Which leads me to the odd threat of "fixing your wagon"...
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Yes I agree with yor statements.
ReplyDeleteVery true. I've never heard "fixing your wagon." What is that supposed to mean?
ReplyDeleteFIX SOMEONE’S WAGON: To deal with someone who has wronged you, to exact retribution for an offense, punish, get revenge or get even with or settle a score with someone by spoiling something important to them or by putting them in a awkward position, ruin someone’s chances of success, bring about someone’s downfall. <“They decided to fix his wagon and pulled the plug on his expense account.”>, <“After what he did to her she’s out to fix his wagon.”>
ReplyDeleteFIX here is used in the ironic sense of dealing with or settling a score by doing ‘damage’ rather than repair. It was first recorded in this sense in 1833 in the expression FIX SOMEONE’S FLINT (see quote below), which was the probable predecessor of FIX SOMEONE’S WAGON. The shift from ‘flint’ to ‘wagon,’ according to The Oxford Dictionary of Slang and others, first appeared in 1951 (see Truman Capote quote below), but according to Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang it was in the 1930s. Other 19th century expressions with similar meaning and which are still in use include SETTLE SOMEONE’S COFFEE, SETTLE/FIX/COOK SOMEONE’S HASH/GRUEL.