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What does it mean when a British person says "I can't be asked"?

Last Updated: 17.06.2025 03:11

What does it mean when a British person says "I can't be asked"?

There are very few circumstances in which somebody would say “I can’t be asked”. Probably you misheard “I can’t be arsed”, which means you can’t be bothered to do something.

On the other hand we also say “I can’t be buggered” to mean “I can’t be bothered”, which seems to have no logic to it other than that it’s an arse-related word that sound bit like “bothered”. With the added complication that although the slang meaning of “bugger” is “have anal intercourse”, its *literal* meaning is “a Bulgarian”.

It may be related to the expression “Get your arse in gear”, which literally means “Start walking” (that is, set your buttocks in motion) but metaphorically means “Begin taking action”. If you “can’t be arsed” you’re refusing to take action.

What does it mean if I had a dream about my mom who passed 12 years ago waking up from her coma and asking for my dad? I have never had a dreams about her since she has been gone.