In everyday conversation, expressing indifference can be just as crucial as showing enthusiasm or dislike. Sometimes, conveying a lack of strong feelings or disinterest in a matter helps maintain neutrality or avoid conflict. This blog post explores 20 common expressions and idioms that perfectly capture the essence of indifference. These phrases will equip you to communicate apathy or disinterest succinctly and effectively in various social and professional contexts.
Expressions Related to Indifference
1. Couldn’t care less
Meaning: Completely uninterested.
Example: I couldn’t care less about celebrity gossip.
2. Doesn’t make a difference to me
Meaning: It does not matter to the speaker.
Example: Go ahead and choose; it doesn’t make a difference to me.
3. Matters little
Meaning: It’s of little importance.
Example: Whether it rains or not matters little to our plans.
4. Not lose any sleep over it
Meaning: Not be worried or bothered by it.
Example: I won’t lose any sleep over his opinions.
5. Leave me cold
Meaning: Not affect or interest me.
Example: Most modern art leaves me cold.
6. Take it or leave it
Meaning: Not strongly interested; indifferent to the outcome.
Example: The job offer is a take it or leave it deal.
7. No big deal
Meaning: Not important or worrisome.
Example: If you can’t make it to the meeting, no big deal.
8. Whatever floats your boat
Meaning: Do whatever makes you happy; indifference to others’ choices.
Example: If you want to spend your vacation at home, whatever floats your boat.
9. Six of one, half a dozen of the other
Meaning: No difference between two choices.
Example: Whether you go by train or by car, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.
10. Not my circus, not my monkeys
Meaning: Not my problem or responsibility.
Example: They can figure out their own issues; not my circus, not my monkeys.
11. It’s all the same to me
Meaning: I have no preference.
Example: Steak or fish for dinner, it’s all the same to me.
12. Makes no never mind
Meaning: Makes no difference.
Example: You can arrive early or late; makes no never mind to me.
13. Who cares?
Meaning: Indicates a lack of interest in the topic.
Example: Who cares if he’s late again?
14. Not my problem
Meaning: Not the speaker’s concern.
Example: If he didn’t do his part, that’s not my problem.
15. Don’t have a dog in this fight
Meaning: No vested interest in the outcome of a situation.
Example: I don’t have a dog in this fight, so I’ll stay out of it.
16. Don’t mind either way
Meaning: Have no strong feelings one way or the other.
Example: We could see a movie or go bowling; I don’t mind either way.
17. Nothing to write home about
Meaning: Not very special or noteworthy.
Example: The concert was okay, nothing to write home about.
18. If you say so
Meaning: Expresses passive agreement or skepticism.
Example: You think that’s the best movie ever? If you say so.
19. No skin off my nose
Meaning: Not causing me any problems.
Example: If you want to go out in this weather, it’s no skin off my nose.
20. What’s it to you?
Meaning: Why does it matter to you? A defensive form of expressing indifference.
Example: I decided to skip the meeting—what’s it to you?
