Literally

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lit·er·al·ly
/ˈlitərəlē/
Adverb
In a literal manner or sense; exactly: "the driver took it literally when asked to go straight over the traffic circle".
Used to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling.
Synonyms
literatim - word for word - verbatim - to the letter
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Some litter:

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A rally:

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A rally about litter:

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A rally that became litter:

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Literally.
 
I tend to go along with the views of the mighty Stephen Fry.


English is a mongrel language that is constantly evolving from the influence of other languages, popular culture, writers, immigrants and a whole number of other things. Words change meaning all the time, you just have to get used to it in the same way you just have to get used to the changes in technology, you certainly can't stop it. ;)
 
scorza said:
I heard on the radio that the OED have changed the definition of the word "literally" that will allow it to be used as emphasis. E.g. it's now acceptable for a football commentator to say "Player X is literally on fire!" to describe a player who is performing well. This literally annoys me and I don't care what the OED says, it still sounds stupid.
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ARGH!!! The thing that annoys me the most is when the news casters try to be clever and use literally just because the pun they're going for is somewhat similar to the object they're talking about and use the word literally when they mean figuratively, annoys the hell out of me :mad::mad::mad:

How can they possible allow the wrong use of the word that is silly, now if I want to check whether the person is exaggerating I can't ask him "literally?" because it means figuratively now. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Col_M said:
English is a mongrel language that is constantly evolving from the influence of other languages, popular culture, writers, immigrants and a whole number of other things. Words change meaning all the time, you just have to get used to it in the same way you just have to get used to the changes in technology, you certainly can't stop it. ;)
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Well now we need a new word to mean literally since we have to "figuratively" now. How am I supposed to know if a person is being literal, am I going to ask him "for realzies?" Life is over as we know it!
 
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So I "I literally punched him in the face" could now be interpreted as ambiguous?. In which case I'm off to punch someone in the face.
 
Nerusy said:
Well now we need a new word to mean literally since we have to "figuratively" now. How am I supposed to know if a person is being literal, am I going to ask him "for realzies?" Life is over as we know it!
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Don't ask me, I have no idea! :) Saying that though we get on fine with having two or more meanings for many words.
 
LOAM said:
So I "I literally punched him in the face" could now be interpreted as ambiguous?. In which case I'm off to punch someone in the face.
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Not really in your example. There are two ways your statement could be interpreted; a) you actually did punch someone in the face as opposed to metaphorically punching someone in the face, or b) you punched someone in the face really hard. Either statement will end up with you in trouble with the police ;)
 
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