By Rebecca - 21/05/2012 14:11 - United States - Austin

Today, my colleague yet again misused the word "literally." It's driving me insane. I have to work opposite him and hear him say things like he's just "literally shit himself inside out." FML
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You deserved it 5 192
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Top comments

Feared 9

Your comment literally made me shit myself inside out.

142 4
SkoomaKi 27

You should say "I'm literally going to kill you if you don't stop saying literally. Literally".

125 1

Comments

dannykilljoy 4

Oh shut the he'll up and quit whining. (but I will literally get a large number of dislikes for this)

1 3
Blooblibloo 4

Ever heard of the word "hyperbol" OP? Or "exaggeration" maybe? Don't glorify yourself by losing your head over a word that you think all those other people so less intelligent than you missuse. People know what literally means, so as they know what exaggeration means.

2 4
iwadasn 32

The word is "hyperbole," actually, and it's a figure of speech. Since "literally" is the opposite of "figuratively," saying something literally means that you're not using any figures of speech, including hyperbole.

3 1
Blooblibloo 4

Ok, still work as an exaggeration doesn't it? There is a difference in the language you speak and the one you write. Most of people won't use all the rules while speaking in informal context in order to give more rhythm to what they are saying. Or should we all speak like books to friends? I like literature and languages, but god I think it'd be very boring.

0 0
Arrawyn 12

That's literally hilarious. My sister does that an it drives my brother crazy, the reactions are hilarious

0 0
Peatothesea 0

YDI for working minimum wage. Go get a job that pays a little more and you'll have colleagues that are a little more educated.

0 0
Ninjasaurus18 9

Lol, Grammar Nazi, much? But yeah. It bugs me too, when people screw up their English. Like my little brother (12 years old!!!) says 'inside' rather than 'in'. Like: "This year I'm inside Mrs. Whatsherface's home room!"

1 1
GoldenGrizzly 7

homeroom* And, he is using it correctly. He is INSIDE her homeroom.

1 1
MoogleSam 8

'Literally' in that case is an exaggeration and is perfectly acceptable in English. Your anger is therefore unjustified and you might want to look into anger management if it 'drives you insane' despite being an acceptable use of literally.

2 2
personThingy 13

No, using "literally" as an exaggeration is not proper. By definition, you can't figuratively use the word literally.

2 2
sundayporch 2

By definition, you can: 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)

2 1
downtime 12

It being acceptable or not in 'modern' English does not suddenly make the individuals frustration unjustified. I would be grammatically correct in saying 'period' at the end of my sentences too, but it wouldn't make the anger of everyone having to listen to that shit 'unjustified'.

0 0
Shade1982 20

It's in the dictionary, not just accepted. So, yeah, this person may be frustrated, but there is no reason for it, so it kinda is unjustified...

0 0
sonnyyx 6

Literally can be used that way and still be grammatically correct. It's called a hyperbole.

2 1
titzenpitzer 9

someone discovered Parks and Recreation....you can't blame him, it's funny

0 0
ImTheAlpha 30

It annoys my teachers when we say "like" every give words.

0 2