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LarsH
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Adding a little to the good information in the other answers...

I think key to seeing why the answer is "1" and not "2" (Steve warns Jim, lightly, not to mind) is to realize that there is an elided "I" at the beginning of the idiom. That "I" doesn't have to be elidedis often explicit. See e.g. the song

I entered the kitchen, 'twas cosy and bright
Soon a fine hearty supper, I put out of sight
Says she "Have a drop of the old mountain dew"
And me darlin', says I, I don't mind if I do

(http://www.shamrocksinthewind.com/lyrics_frolickn.html) The Rovers perform this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKi00SVmLJ4

The other aspect to understanding the form of this idiom is typical British humorous understatement. So the rather weak "I don't mind", taken literally, is a very weak and modest affirmation. But it's understood as humorous understatement for "Gladly!"a stronger "I'd like that" or even "I'd love to", with humorous effect. I think, the greater the disparity between the literal and understood meanings, the funnier it is.

Adding a little to the good information in the other answers...

I think key to seeing why the answer is "1" and not "2" (Steve warns Jim, lightly, not to mind) is that there is an elided "I" at the beginning of the idiom. That "I" doesn't have to be elided. See e.g. the song

I entered the kitchen, 'twas cosy and bright
Soon a fine hearty supper, I put out of sight
Says she "Have a drop of the old mountain dew"
And me darlin', says I, I don't mind if I do

(http://www.shamrocksinthewind.com/lyrics_frolickn.html) The Rovers perform this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKi00SVmLJ4

The other aspect to understanding the form of this idiom is typical British humorous understatement. So the rather weak "I don't mind" is understood as humorous understatement for "Gladly!"

Adding a little to the good information in the other answers...

I think key to seeing why the answer is "1" and not "2" (Steve warns Jim, lightly, not to mind) is to realize that there is an elided "I" at the beginning of the idiom. That "I" is often explicit. See e.g. the song

I entered the kitchen, 'twas cosy and bright
Soon a fine hearty supper, I put out of sight
Says she "Have a drop of the old mountain dew"
And me darlin', says I, I don't mind if I do

(http://www.shamrocksinthewind.com/lyrics_frolickn.html) The Rovers perform this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKi00SVmLJ4

The other aspect to understanding the form of this idiom is British humorous understatement. "I don't mind", taken literally, is a very weak and modest affirmation. But it's understood as understatement for a stronger "I'd like that" or even "I'd love to", with humorous effect. I think, the greater the disparity between the literal and understood meanings, the funnier it is.

Source Link
LarsH
  • 930
  • 8
  • 16

Adding a little to the good information in the other answers...

I think key to seeing why the answer is "1" and not "2" (Steve warns Jim, lightly, not to mind) is that there is an elided "I" at the beginning of the idiom. That "I" doesn't have to be elided. See e.g. the song

I entered the kitchen, 'twas cosy and bright
Soon a fine hearty supper, I put out of sight
Says she "Have a drop of the old mountain dew"
And me darlin', says I, I don't mind if I do

(http://www.shamrocksinthewind.com/lyrics_frolickn.html) The Rovers perform this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKi00SVmLJ4

The other aspect to understanding the form of this idiom is typical British humorous understatement. So the rather weak "I don't mind" is understood as humorous understatement for "Gladly!"