ya know how people will preface a non-literal statement with the word literally? what's up with that?

for instance, "woah, that guy literally got his head knocked off!"

and then there's the folks who put the extra emphasis on it, to really let you know they don't know what they're talking about

"he literally, literally exploded with rage"

literally? literally.

11/24/2008 9:48:03 AM

yeah i never got that... literally...

11/24/2008 9:49:25 AM

I am one of those people.

11/24/2008 9:50:07 AM

literally?

11/24/2008 9:50:24 AM

i just don't like it when people say lit-trally.

11/24/2008 9:51:11 AM

Lit-traleigh

11/24/2008 9:51:39 AM

i use "literally" pretty often, but i think it's usually to emphasize a literal statement...i'm going to start paying attention to this phenomenon

mad props, yo

11/24/2008 9:52:24 AM

Quote :

"for instance, "woah, that guy literally got his head knocked off!""

This kind of thing only makes sense if there's a decapitated person as the subject.

I've never understood the common usage of that word when it isn't necessary.

11/24/2008 9:54:25 AM

fox news people do it all the time "some fifth graders in durham had a science fair that was literally out of this world" and all they did is made models of some planets.

11/24/2008 9:56:23 AM

I did this once recently. Then I stopped and thought "wait a second that literally did not happen." Then I felt stupid.

EOS.

11/24/2008 10:16:31 AM

I don't think I have heard this much, but probably now that I'm thinking about it I'll notice it all the time and it will drive me crazy.

11/24/2008 10:17:36 AM

I hate it when people throw in literally's and conceivably's to juice up an otherwise mundane statement. My ex did that all the fucking time: "Can I tell you something?" NO, YOU MAY NOT TELL ME SOMETHING.

[Edited on November 24, 2008 at 10:30 AM. Reason : .]

11/24/2008 10:30:18 AM

11/24/2008 10:31:26 AM

I thought this thread was about:

11/24/2008 10:34:05 AM

some Engineers say "technically" too damn much.

11/24/2008 10:37:06 AM

I am literally servicing myself right now.

11/24/2008 12:52:14 PM

Quote :

"what's up with that?"

[Edited on November 24, 2008 at 12:54 PM. Reason : ]

11/24/2008 12:54:04 PM

I use "literally" to differentiate between literal and figurative meanings, when the figurative meaning seems to be implied.

11/24/2008 12:54:27 PM

this is literally my biggest pet peeve

11/24/2008 12:55:05 PM

Hahah, I used to say "What's up with that" a lot until Comedy Central ran some stand-up advertisement making fun of the phrase years and years ago (back when I actually watched TV).

11/25/2008 10:33:50 PM

hyperbole anyone?

Quote :

"i just don't like it when people say lit-trally."

don't know anyone who does this except for brits and douches trying to be british



[Edited on November 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM. Reason : x]

11/25/2008 10:34:59 PM

those people

lol

but literally, yeah.

11/25/2008 10:48:36 PM

Quote :

"I use "literally" to differentiate between literal and figurative meanings, when the figurative meaning seems to be implied."

11/25/2008 10:49:49 PM

I don't use "literally" much, but I do tend to preface my statements (a lot) with "What I'm saying is" or "I mean"... Of course it's what I'm fucking saying, it's the shit coming out of my mouth. I mean, goddamn, self.

11/25/2008 11:00:44 PM

dnl loves to use this word irl

11/25/2008 11:01:35 PM

I literally, literally...just hit the 'Post Reply!' button

11/25/2008 11:02:01 PM

11/25/2008 11:02:50 PM

Quote :

"fox news people do it all the time "some fifth graders in durham had a science fair that was literally out of this world" and all they did is made models of some planets."

This actually seems to be an acceptable use of the word.

Although :carlface: as a pun.

11/28/2008 2:52:19 PM

I love when people say literally about completely off the wall type shit.

eg. "I literally could have touched the moon when I went off that schweeet jump!!"

fucking idiots trying to sound as though their vocabulary is at such a high level and they have the need to show it off

11/28/2008 4:08:55 PM

are you saying the word 'literally' implies a high level of vocabulary?

11/28/2008 4:16:33 PM

oh no, i meant the use of "literally" as a modifier

11/28/2008 6:15:20 PM

SRSLY?
YEA LTRLY!

11/28/2008 6:16:17 PM

4/9/2010 9:15:18 AM

SRSLY? SRSLY

4/9/2010 9:19:04 AM

lulz i was gonna post this

4/9/2010 9:20:14 AM

FIGURATIVELY? FIGURATIVELY

4/9/2010 9:21:39 AM

I literally acted like an asshole son.

LITERALLY.

4/9/2010 9:28:50 AM

Essentially.

4/9/2010 9:31:36 AM

categorically

4/9/2010 9:46:47 AM

4/9/2010 10:02:56 AM

Quote :

""he literally, literally exploded with rage""

ex·plode (k-spld)
v. ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing, ex·plodes
v.intr.

1. To release mechanical, chemical, or nuclear energy by the sudden production of gases in a confined space: The bomb exploded.
2. To burst violently as a result of internal pressure.
3. To shatter with a loud noise: The vase exploded into tiny pieces when it hit the floor.
4. To make an emotional outburst: My neighbor exploded in rage at the trespassers.


[Edited on April 9, 2010 at 10:19 AM. Reason : meh]

4/9/2010 10:17:38 AM

David Cross has a whole bit about this very issue.

4/9/2010 10:23:10 AM

EXPRESS MODE...

EXPLODE


MISSION INCREDIBLE
UNDERCOVER CONVOY

4/9/2010 10:28:29 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMMzxWMlcN0

4/9/2010 11:11:25 AM

i literally just read this entire thread

4/9/2010 11:24:59 AM

i catch people doing this all the time, and i want to call them out but i don't want to be a douche. so i just laugh in my head.

i think i'm going to start saying "figuratively" when you don't really need to say it.. just to confuse people.. "I totally figuratively slayed that bitch"

4/9/2010 11:49:38 AM

Quote :

"ex·plode (k-spld) v. ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing, ex·plodes v.intr. 1. To release mechanical, chemical, or nuclear energy by the sudden production of gases in a confined space: The bomb exploded. 2. To burst violently as a result of internal pressure. 3. To shatter with a loud noise: The vase exploded into tiny pieces when it hit the floor. 4. To make an emotional outburst: My neighbor exploded in rage at the trespassers. "

LOL ...

looks like that smarty pants qntmfred just got beat at his own game.

4/9/2010 12:02:43 PM

Quote :

"ya know how people will preface a non-literal statement with the word literally? what's up with that? for instance, "woah, that guy literally got his head knocked off!""

Well how do you know "that guy" didn't actually get his head knocked off?

4/9/2010 12:24:03 PM

Icanbeleivable

I'm astraladvent and I approved this message.

4/9/2010 12:36:01 PM

I literally, literally, I mean literally had explosive diarrhea.

4/9/2010 1:21:39 PM