Can't be arsed (CBA)
Informal Depends on context
What it really means
Means "I really don't want to make the effort". Contains a mild swear word; the polite version is "can't be bothered". In texts it becomes "cba".
Chinese explanation
意思是"实在懒得弄、提不起劲"。含轻微粗口，礼貌版本是 can't be bothered。发信息时缩写成 cba。
Example conversation
A: Are you cooking tonight?
B: Can't be arsed. Let's just get a takeaway.
A：你今晚做饭吗？
B：实在懒得做。我们直接点外卖吧。
All British Slang
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake