FUmiYAsu Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Being from Hong Kong means that I don't know some of the english that I speak in exact form...a recent phrase that's puzzling me is that I've been trying to figure out but didn't ask anyone was whether it should be "can't be arsed" or "can't be asked"? I know it means can't be bothered but I've never really learn this sort of phrases properly...So which one is it? (or are they both right?) Link to post Share on other sites
doc_newstead Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I really can't be arsed to answer you right now. Sorry. Link to post Share on other sites
PariahWolf Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I reckon it means Can't be asked and that is what I say but I doubt people will mind which you say. I have a feeling that can't be asked is more correct and was around first. Link to post Share on other sites
doc_newstead Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I have to disagree with PW. I've never heard anybody say 'can't be asked'. It wouldn't make sense anyway. Not where I live at least. Maybe they say that up north or something, but I doubt it. Link to post Share on other sites
PariahWolf Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I'm in Cambridge where all the posh people live and we all say can't be asked, guess it depends where you live. Link to post Share on other sites
doc_newstead Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Well fair enough, if that's what you say, that's what you say, but it's fair to summise that 'arsed' is the more common turn of phrase. As seen here: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=can't...:en-US:official And less so here: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hs=w2J&hl=e...nG=Search&meta= Link to post Share on other sites
PariahWolf Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Wow I never thought it was can't be arsed. Learn something new everyday. Link to post Share on other sites
doc_newstead Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Do you say 'chip', to mean 'leave'? As in 'Right then, I'm going to chip'. I first heard that when I lived in Cambridge, and said it for a little while Link to post Share on other sites
Soloman Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 '.....An then she shat on a turtle!' Link to post Share on other sites
mumblemush Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I would go with the former. I have a friend who says 'asked' and it irritates the hell out of me. 'Asked' would actually make more sense, but it sounds stupid. Link to post Share on other sites
Xaccers Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 French kid at my school used to say "I don't give a sheet" (and that's how he'd write it! Link to post Share on other sites
Samm Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Can't be arsed/bothered. No idea why it should be "asked". Since when does that have anything to do with motivation. Link to post Share on other sites
doc_newstead Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Samm speaks the truth. And he has floppy hair too, so he's alright by me. Link to post Share on other sites
Kipper Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 cant be asked? its cant be arsed where i come from.. but i come from up north.. and were all common.. and shag sheep by all accounts Link to post Share on other sites
wasted__youf Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I know it means can't be bothered but I've never really learn this sort of phrases properly...So which one is it? (or are they both right?) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Its both. It probably sarted as "Can't be asked" and then got bastardised into "Can't be arsed". But, you can use them both, mate. "Can't be asked" has everything to do with motivation. As in; "You can't even ask me to do that", etc. Link to post Share on other sites
PariahWolf Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 Do you say 'chip', to mean 'leave'? As in 'Right then, I'm going to chip'. I first heard that when I lived in Cambridge, and said it for a little while <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sometimes, also goes with the good old "lets have a butchers" and such. Link to post Share on other sites
Kipper Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 "lets have a butchers" <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I say that Link to post Share on other sites
STARGATESG1NUT Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 I always thought that arsed was just a way to say as* without swearing. I might be wrong, but meh. Link to post Share on other sites
Shao14 Posted December 14, 2005 Report Share Posted December 14, 2005 To me, "can't be asked" means, well, literally can't be asked as in "what you want to ask is one of those questions that can't be asked." And "can't be arsed" is just an idiom for can't be bothered. Link to post Share on other sites
Robot 2000 Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 *albartroth* is the original rude word. It's in Chaucer Link to post Share on other sites
billymak Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 A thread on *albartroth*... whoa... I have never heard of "being asked". :S Link to post Share on other sites
oikoik Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 cba - cannot be arsed i've only ever heard of 'cant be asked' by foreigners who didnt know the correct term and had instead relied on the phonetics [but hadnt listened closely], and presumed that we had a silent 'k' because '*albartroth*' didnt exist for them when they learnt english [usually bottom or posterior] - so while they werent familiar with '*albartroth*' they were with 'asked' and presumed it was some funny english variant on a phrase. Link to post Share on other sites
Samm Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 Samm speaks the truth. And he has floppy hair too, so he's alright by me. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> o rly? Link to post Share on other sites
HaVoC Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 NO WAI!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Samm Posted December 15, 2005 Report Share Posted December 15, 2005 And so it begins... At least I can't be mistaken for Jow now EDIT: Ohh and no I didn't shave it off to prove Doc wrong, incase you were wondering "Can't be asked" has everything to do with motivation. As in; "You can't even ask me to do that", etc. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't understand that really makes no sense. You being asked to do something would mean that you would have an opposition in doing it for someone, not whether you can be bothered to do something or not Link to post Share on other sites
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