I knew Adam Putnam was dumb, but not so dumb to be one of the people who uses the word "literally"

[Bombtrack]

in the completely opposite meaning of the words actual meaning and definition.



I just saw this firecrotch tool reading a PREPARED STATEMENT smear against Democrats saying (and I'm paraphrasing, but I just saw it) "Never till now have I seen leadership in this country so bad that they're LITERALLY pulling the rug out from underneath our troops.

These people who use literally like this are one of the biggest groups of English butchering clowns, just freaking ridiculous.

[izzybeans]

1. "Dude, that was so fucking funny, I literally shit my pants."

"Really? You literally shit your pants."

David Cross is that you?

[Goblinmonger]

2. "What did you do with your shitty pants?"

I love that bit. One of my favs by Cross (of course I'm an English geek so that probably clouds the decision making). I like how Cross points out in that example that people who use it incorrectly get indignant like THEY are the ones that really understand that word.

[Bombtrack]

12. I wish I was David Cross

Except I'd have to give up my luscious hair.

Where/when did he do that bit related to the word literally ?

[Make7]

17. "Shut Up, You F*cking Baby!"

link

:) Make7

[Goblinmonger]

3. Well, that rug really did tie the room together.

So, while it might not seem like a big deal to you and me, getting rid of the rug could really demoralize our troops.

I agree that they are language butchering clowns. How can you use the complete opposite meaning of a word and not realize you are an asshat?

[xultar]

4. ..

Main Entry: lit·er·al·ly
Variant(s): /'li-t&-r&-lE, 'li-tr&-lE, 'li-t&r-lE/
Function: adverb
1 : in a literal sense or manner : ACTUALLY <took the remark literally> <was literally insane>
2 : in effect : VIRTUALLY <will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice -- Norman Cousins>
usage Since some people take sense 2 to be the opposite of sense 1, it has been frequently criticized as a misuse. Instead, the use is pure hyperbole intended to gain emphasis, but it often appears in contexts where no additional emphasis is necessary.

[RebelOne]

5. From my grammar manual:

Literally. Overused and misused. It means "actually or in fact," not "figuratively." No politician, rock band or cult, for example, can "literally sweep the Earth." In other words, use literally only when describing reality, or consider dropping the word.

[xultar]

11. Wow everyone is so perfect around here That's good for y'all. I'm not perfect and I love it.

It makes life fun and unpredictable. I don't mind being an ignorant boob. I'm glad you guys tolerate me.

So...y'all do your thing in the whole perfection realm. And us imperfect knuckle dragging retards will literally lumber on. I technically feel it is a good thing.

[yodermon]

16. xultar! thanks for that.

I find it hilarious that the literal MISUSE of a word has become so commonplace that the very definition now includes its opposite.

So now,
literally literally means literally, but
literally figuratively means figuratively.
So literally, literally and figuratively are opposites,
but figuratively, figuratively and literally are synonyms.

lovely language we've got here.

[PA Democrat]

6. Well Lindsay Graham says you can buy 5 rugs for $5.00 in a market in Baghdad

so what's to worry? ANd it's so safe, it's just like walking down the street in suburban America! Literally! At least according to John McCain!

[Skinner]

7. I love the word "literally"

I use it all the time. And most of the time when I use it, I'm not speaking literally. I think it provides just the right amount of emphasis.

I also love the word "technically". That word is hilarious. Works well in so many contexts.

[KharmaTrain]

8. My Fave Was "In All Honesty"

Whenever someone says that line the bullshit detector runs into the red.

[papau]

9. technically you're correct - hmmm - works well but "you're correct" works better unless

one is trying to imply the opposite of "correct" as to the "big picture".

I'll leave "literally" to those that received better grades than I in creative writing - which means "literally" everyone.

[xultar]

10. I dig both of them as well. If we didn't misuse so much we wouldn't have expanded

our language.

[ProgressiveFool]

18. Try "basically" for that extra condescending air

nt

[Gruenemann]

13. "I literally DIED when I saw that!"

Now, let's move on to using qualifiers with "unique."

[yodermon]

14. I Could Care Less.

;)

[piedmont]

15. LOL! I hate that one! nt