7.I couldn’t care less.
這句話的意思是「我不在乎」,「缺乏興趣」(lack of interest),也就是:I don’t care at all. 或 I don’t give a hoot. 例如:
人家如果問: What do you think of the budget-cut?(你對預算削減有何看法?)
你回答: I couldn’t care less.(我毫不在乎)
How do you like Mr. Lee’s political point of view?(你喜歡李先生的政見嗎?)
I couldn’t care less.(我才不在乎呢!)
但是有時說話者也有「口是心非」: 例如:
I couldn’t care less about the promotion or pay raise.(我不在乎升級或加薪)
而實際上他是根本在乎升級和加薪的,那么人家也許就會回答說: Yes, you do(care).
至于 I couldn’t care more. 就是「我很在乎」(I care a lot.)或 I care deeply. 同理:
I couldn’t agree more.=I totally agree.(我完全同意)
I couldn’t please you more.=I did my best to please you.(我盡量使你高興)
I couldn’t be more right.=I am totally right.
但是老外為了「自尊」,不愿強調自己的錯誤,所以很少人說:
I couldn’t be more wrong.
注意:一般人都用否定句,但也有老外把肯定句與否定句互用。
不過,嚴格來說,I could care less. = I care to some degree.(care 的程度可能減少)
I could care more.=I care some.(care的程度也許增加)(主詞可用任何人稱代名詞:he, she, you, we, they 等。但只用 could,不用 can。)