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Khoff Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

Can I help who's next?

This abomination is rampaging through the United States (people intend it to mean "I'm ready to serve the next person in line") and it drives me crazy! I always want to say, "No, you can't help who's next, this is just the way we're lined up. There's nothing you can do about it." I think it should be "Can I help whoever's next," or - here's a daring thought - how about "Next, please." Am I being overly sensitive? Is there some way of seeing this as acceptable that I'm missing? Is it British? (In which case I certainly apologize for calling it an abomination, and will try to be more accepting!) Does it bother anyone else? Any comments?
  

Top answer

We have many abominations in BrE, but that one hasn't flown in yet! ) MrP

— MrPedantic

  • We have many abominations in BrE, but that one hasn't flown in yet!
  • ) MrP
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33 Answers
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We have many abominations in BrE, but that one hasn't flown in yet!

(Now I'll start hearing it everywhere.)

MrP
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Hello.
I was extremely surprised to find that there are others who are as bothered by this increasingly popular phrase as I am. The only reason that I created an account on this forum was to reply to this post. I have noticed this colloquialism in settings ranging from fast food restaurants to major financial institutions. The last time I was out for a bite I had to restrain myself fr
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Welcome, Dean! I'm honored that my post inspired someone to join the Forum. How did you happen to come across it? (It was posted quite a while ago.) I hope you enjoy the discussions here.
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How about when people say "I could care less?" Shouldn't it be "I couldn't care less?" As in, I care so little about the topic already, it is not possible to care any less? But because so many people say "I could care less," it is starting to sound right. Am I missing something here?
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Yes, of course it should be "I couldn't care less"! Funny thing is that when people drop the "not", the sentence means exactly the contrary... and nobody cares!
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PieanneYes, of course it should be "I couldn't care less"! Funny thing is that when people drop the "not", the sentence means exactly the contrary... and nobody cares!
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I've usually heard "I could care less" with an emphasis on the "I"; whereas "I couldn't care less" has a sing-sing emphasis on the "couldn't" (in BrE, at least).

"I could care less" seems like an ellipsis of a sarcastic "As if I could care less!", which could be construed as "As if I cared at least a little!".

MrP
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Am I alone in being irritated by people who over-analyse macrosememes? People hear a phrase they have not heard before, decide they don't like it, look for its "strict" meaning, pull it to bits and then ridicule it. Nobody would try to argue that Go tell that to the marines! was seriously a request to impart information to that particular branch of the armed forces.
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Hi guys,

I've never heard anyone say 'Can I help who's next?' but I'd deplore it if I did. It's undoubtedly the incorrect thing based on common usage, and it grates on my ear.

I don't think anyone in this thread has actually said it's grammatically incorrect, but that seems to be the implication. I'd like to dispute that a little, because I have trouble seeing it as grammatically
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Clive - to me, "Can I help who's next" is not exactly grammatically incorrect, but it sounds like it should mean "Do I have any control over who's next? Is it my fault that the people are lined up in this particular order?" (As in - "I just stated a fact. Can I help it that he took offense?)

whereas "Can I help whoever's next" means "May I serve the next person in line,
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