IDC Meaning in Text (and IDK, IDEK)

IDC means "I don't care." In texts and online comments it can be easygoing ("idc, you choose the film") or dismissive ("idc what you think"), and the difference comes almost entirely from context.

IDC also lives in a small family of look-alike acronyms that trip people up. IDK means "I don't know," and IDEK means "I don't even know." This guide sorts them out, shows how each one sounds in real chats and explains how to keep a breezy "idc" from coming across as a brush-off.

Quick answer: IDC = "I don't care." IDK = "I don't know." IDEK = "I don't even know." IDC often just means "any option is fine," but it can sound cold, so add a softener ("idc, honestly either is good") with people you don't know well, and skip it at work.

On this page

1. The three acronyms at a glance
2. IDC: the full picture
3. IDK: the most common of the three
4. IDEK: confusion with feeling
5. How punctuation and extras change the tone
6. US vs UK vs Australia
7. How to reply to IDC
8. When not to use it
9. Is IDC acceptable in work chat?
10. A memory trick
11. Practice quiz
12. The takeaway

The three acronyms at a glance

The easiest way to tell IDC and IDK apart is to ask what kind of answer the question wanted. "What should we eat?" asks for a preference, so the shrugging answer is idc. "What time does the shop close?" asks for a fact, so the shrugging answer is idk.

IDC: the full picture

Meaning and grammar

IDC is a clipped form of the clause "I don't care." It can stand alone as a full reply or attach to an object: "idc about football," "idc what time we leave," "idc if it rains."

It is usually typed in lowercase. All caps "IDC" can look emphatic in a text, especially if it is the whole message.

Pronunciation

People read it as letters, "eye-dee-SEE," but hardly anyone says it aloud except as a joke. In speech, "I don't mind" or "whatever you like" do the same job more politely.

Origin

"I don't care" is ordinary English. The acronym arose in the same wave of chat and texting shorthand that produced LOL, BRB and IDK, in the era of instant messengers and phone keypads where every keystroke counted. There is no reliable record of who first used it, and it is best described as one of many abbreviations that spread naturally rather than as something with a known inventor.

The two tones of IDC

Here is the key thing to understand about IDC: the same three letters can be generous or hurtful.

Easygoing idc puts the other person first. It says "I'm flexible, your choice wins."

Sam: pizza or Thai tonight? Jordan: idc honestly, both sound good

Dismissive idc signals a lack of interest in the other person or their topic.

Sam: I got the job!! Jordan: idc

You can see the problem. Nothing in the acronym itself changes; only the situation does. When you want the friendly version, add something that shows warmth: "idc, you pick!" or "idc, happy either way."

10 IDC examples

1. idc what we watch, I just want to see you.
2. idc if it's cold, I'm still going for a swim at Bondi.
3. idc about the score, I'm only here for the pies.
4. Honestly idc, you choose the restaurant.
5. idc what other people think of my jumper.
6. idc which train we get, as long as we're in Manchester by six.
7. idc, both options are fine with me.
8. I really idc who wins the reality show.
9. idc anymore, I'm just going to bed. (tired, not angry)
10. He said "idc" but he clearly cared a lot.

IDK: the most common of the three

IDK means "I don't know." It is one of the most widely used texting abbreviations of all and is perfectly neutral. It signals missing information, not a lack of interest.

Sam: what time is the match? Ruby: idk, maybe 3? I'll check

People also use idk as a softener before an opinion, much like "I'm not sure, but": "idk, I feel like the blue one's nicer." Here it adds modesty rather than real ignorance.

Variants

• IDKY: I don't know why ("idky but I'm craving soup")
• IDKW: I don't know what or I don't know why, depending on context
• IDK about that: polite skepticism ("idk about that, it sounds pricey")
• Dunno: the casual spoken spelling, common in British and Australian chat

6 IDK examples

11. idk where I left my keys.
12. idk if the library is open on Sundays.
13. idk, I think the first flat was better.
14. idk what to get Mum for her birthday.
15. idk how to fix the printer, ask Dev.
16. Idk about you, but I'm starving.

IDEK: confusion with feeling

IDEK stands for "I don't even know." The word "even" turns plain uncertainty into exasperation, amusement or overwhelm. It often appears when something is too strange or complicated to explain.

Sam: why is there a goat in your garden Olivia: idek, it just turned up this morning

It can also introduce an emotional admission: "idek why I'm crying at this advert." Some people stretch it for effect: "idek anymore."

5 IDEK examples

17. idek what that meeting was about.
18. idek how I ended up with three umbrellas.
19. idek where to start with this assignment.
20. The plot twist was so wild, idek.
21. idek what I'm doing with my life, but the tacos are good.

How punctuation and extras change the tone

Because these acronyms are so short, small additions carry a lot of meaning. Here is how the same reply can shift.

A full stop at the end of a very short text can feel abrupt to many younger readers, because casual chat normally leaves it off. So "idc." may sound sharper than the sender intended. If you want to keep things friendly, an exclamation mark or a softening word helps.

Pairing with other acronyms

You'll often see these combined: "idc tbh" (honestly, I don't mind), "idk ngl" (not gonna lie, I don't know) or "idk lmk" (I don't know, let me know). Each pairing adds a little nuance. If you are curious about the honesty markers, see TBH meaning.

When "I don't care" is actually supportive

Sometimes idc is a reassurance rather than a shrug. If a friend worries that you'll judge them, "idc what anyone says, you looked amazing" or "idc if the house is messy, I just want to see you" uses indifference to the small things to show you care about the person. In these cases idc is warm, not cold.

US vs UK vs Australia

All three acronyms mean the same thing in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, and all three are understood by most people who text regularly.

The differences lie in the polite alternatives that surround them:

• United States: Americans often say "I don't care" in speech to mean "either is fine," though "whatever works for you" is a softer choice.
• United Kingdom: "I don't mind" is the classic polite way to show flexibility, and many British speakers would hear "I don't care" as slightly blunt even when it is meant kindly. That makes idm a handy, warmer option in UK chats.
• Australia: "I don't mind" and "I'm easy" are both common, and "no worries, whatever you reckon" fits the relaxed local register. Australians use idc and idk much as Britons do.

So if you are messaging someone in London or Perth and want to show flexibility, "idm" or "I'm easy" may land more gently than "idc."

How to reply to IDC

Your reply depends on which idc you received.

Flexible idc ("idc, you pick"): make the decision. Do not bounce the question back three times.

Sam: idc where we go Tom: ok, the Italian place on King St at 7?

Unclear idc: check gently.

Sam: idc Hannah: do you mean you're easy, or did I annoy you?

Dismissive idc during an argument: step back rather than escalate. "Ok, let's talk later when we're both less stressed" keeps things calm.

Playful idc: play along. If a friend says "idc about your fantasy football team," a cheerful "rude, but fair" works.

If you need a polite way to make plans after an idc, our guide to HMU meaning covers another common planning acronym.

When not to use it

❌ "idc" in reply to good news. ✅ "That's brilliant, congrats!"

Even if you are busy, a one-word idc in response to someone's excitement reads as uninterested.

❌ "Hi Mr Collins, idc which time slot." ✅ "Hi Mr Collins, either time slot works for me."

Professional messages need full sentences, and "don't care" sounds careless even when spelled out.

❌ "idc what time it starts" (when you mean you have no information) ✅ "idk what time it starts"

Mixing up idc and idk changes the meaning entirely, and the wrong one can sound rude.

❌ "idek" in a formal report: "Idek why sales fell." ✅ "The reason for the drop in sales is not yet clear."

❌ Replying "idc" to a worried friend's question. ✅ "I'm happy with anything, but are you ok?"

For other short replies that often get misread, see SMH meaning and our guide on how to respond to "What's up?".

Is IDC acceptable in work chat?

Generally, no. IDK is often fine in a relaxed team chat ("idk, let me check with finance"), because not knowing something is normal and neutral. IDC is riskier because "not caring" is never a good look at work.

Better options:

• "Either works for me."
• "No strong preference, happy to go with the team."
• "Whichever is easiest for you."
• "I'm flexible."

These carry the same flexibility without any hint of indifference.

A memory trick

Look at the last letter:

• C is for Choice. IDC answers a question about choices or preferences.
• K is for Knowledge. IDK answers a question about facts.
• E is for Even, the Exasperated one.

And before you hit send on idc, run a quick "C for Cold?" check: could this be read as cold? If so, add a friendly word.

Practice quiz

Choose the best acronym or work out what the message means.

1. "What time does the cinema close?" — "______, let me google it." (idc / idk)
2. "Chinese or Indian tonight?" — "______, you pick!" (idc / idek)
3. Your friend writes: "idek what's going on with my phone, it keeps restarting." What do they mean?
4. In a British group chat, which reply sounds most polite when offered two options: "idc" or "idm"?
5. "Congrats on your new flat!" — "idc." How will this probably come across?
6. Rewrite "idc which day" for an email to a client.

Answers

1. idk – The question asks for information, not preference.
2. idc – The question asks for a preference, and "you pick" shows the friendly version.
3. They are confused and possibly frustrated; they can't explain the problem.
4. idm – "I don't mind" is the traditional polite form in British English.
5. Rude or upset – a lone idc in response to kind words sounds dismissive.
6. "Either day works for me" – full words and a positive framing suit professional messages.

The takeaway

Think of IDC as a tool with a sharp edge. It is perfect for telling a friend you are happy with whatever they choose, as long as you add a word or two of warmth, and it is best kept out of work messages and replies to anyone's news. Keep IDK for facts you lack, IDEK for moments of real bafflement, and "I don't mind" for when you want flexibility to sound as kind as you mean it.