>>>>
But Americans say, "he could care less" to say the the same thing if I am right?
>>>>>

i think that this is just a common mistake that some people (americans or otherwise) make.

Of course, we're just as likely to say 'I couldn't give a toss' to mean the same as 'I couldn't care less'

"Of course, we're just as likely to say 'I couldn't give a toss' to mean the same as 'I couldn't care less'"

Also "I don't give a monkey's" or "I don't give a flying/fiddler's fart..."

I have to bookmark this!

Kate, did you get my email? I sent it from hotmail, depending on how you have your hotmail configured it may have gone to your junk box.

Flygirl!

I'll check - haven't been checking my hotmail for a while as I have a new email...that goes with my new job! Will send you an email and tell all...

I've always liked the way someone will say, "The earth is flat, isn't it?", with the "isn't it" seeming to infer that the statement could only be questioned by a complete boor.

Delighted you've all been having fun with this thread - must admit in my original post I thought writing "arse" was a bit vulgar but I'm glad people have felt a bit more relaxed to stick to the original venacular

I'm amazed at the number of phrases we have for stupid people - my particular favourite is "numpty"

I'm fond of tickety boo. Apparently means very up to snugg.

Oops, that's very up to snuff.

What's all this in aid of, then?

I get a kick out of the following from my Irish connections:

Happy as Larry
On the Pig's Back
Fair Play to Ya!

Thanks Kate, we also thought it was an odd thing to say to a stranger, maybe she was looking at something to buy with an odd expression, someonelse told us it could mean a happy face, but we had our doughts. To this day we still laugh if I say it to her!
Cheers

Oh...a couple more...

I put it on the long finger (meaning I put off doing it)

Mind Yourself!

Thanks Londonengland...this is a fun thread!

I forgot more!

"Bampot" (crazy)

"Who are you when you're at home?" (who do you think you are?)

and a US phrase (I believe)
"Colder than a witches tit in a brass bra"

Robespierre, just because you don't want to play, doesn't mean you can come here trying to take our ball away.

What does 'that's very up to snuff' mean???

I've never heard "up to snuff" in a positive sense, only "not up to snuff" meaning, not really up to the job. "Not much cop" has a similar meaning.

But I see Brewer's dictionary has

"Up to snuff. Wide awake, knowing, sharp; not easily taken in or imposed upon; alive to scent (Dutch, snuffen, to scent, snuf; Danish, snöfte)."

Another phrase we use which I now know may be Danish in origin is "Whoops a daisy".

Kate, I'm answering the OP question. What are you doing?

She's winding you up

Having me on, as it were (another of my favo(u)rites). :)

My father picked up the term "fags" for cigarettes during the Second World War in the UK.

"Fags" were a small bunch of sticks used to start fires.