blamebrampton: 15th century woodcut of a hound (Default)
blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2015-07-12 12:14 pm

Quick Question for Americans

I have a usage question, fingers crossed there are a couple of people ambling by who can answer it.

I know that the use of 'I could care less' for 'I couldn't care less' is regional in the US (it's confusing to the rest of us, but once you know it exists and isn't an ironic turning of the phrase, it's easily understood, so no wuckers (as about 11 Australians still say).)

HOWEVER, I see an enormous amount of 'That's such a cliché ending,' but I don't know whether that's US standard, like aluminum*, or US regional like could care less.

Help!


* I'd say it was all Noah Webster's fault, which it pretty much is, but Humphry Davy started the whole palaver. I read an hilarious blog about ten years ago with a British scientist ranting about the fact that the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry's ruling in favour of aluminium was broadly ignored in the US. 'Fine!' he wrote. 'In that case, Sulphur! SULPHUR! Phuck you all!'

[identity profile] bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com 2015-07-12 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
Not much help as Canadian, but up here we say cliched (pretend there's an accent there). Although, it depends on the sentence structure. While I would say "That's such a cliched ending," I would also say, "That ending was so cliche." So I'm super not helpful! lol

Also, hi!
(reply from suspended user)

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2015-07-12 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
Hello! I was just thinking of you due to comment answering ;-) Well, I was just limping around the market looking at all the stalls that weren't there because of the weather, but in general ... and thank you, helpful stuff!

[identity profile] napchic.livejournal.com 2015-07-17 10:01 am (UTC)(link)
"I would also say, "That ending was so cliche."

Exactly this!
*makes vague pointy hand motion*

Also, by some miracle... because we U.S. southerners don't speak English as much as we speak something I like to call 'Merican...
Sorry, I digress.

By some miracle, most people I hear around these parts manage to say,
"I couldn't care less."

Although, more often you'll hear,
"I ownt givafuck. Now shut yer ass up."