what word could be used instead of 'literally'

[Blobbenstein]

What is wrong with this quote from football pundit Jamie Redknapp?

"In his youth, Michael Owen was literally a greyhound."

The answer is: nothing. That is because the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary have changed the definition of "literally" - so it can now be used in a similar way to "metaphorically."

BBC News - Why editors are 'literally' changing the dictionary

I know this is from last year, but it still bugs me.

Someone used the word 'actually' to me, today, whereas they may have used to word 'literally' previously.

What about 'Iammapratly'? The word 'Iammapratly' could literally means something which isn't a metaphor.

Do you think prats would use that word to mean metaphorically?

 

[beancounter]

Literally Synonyms, Literally Antonyms | Thesaurus.com

 

[Blobbenstein]

ok thanks beancounter.

 

[Second Summer]

Well, well, well. Assuming "literally" is derived from "literature", then it could make sense, since a lot of literature is just fiction and lies these days.

 

[beancounter]

ok thanks beancounter.

That's not the answer you were looking for?

I took the literal meaning of your question, and answered it.... literally.

 

[Blobbenstein]

Well, well, well. Assuming "literally" is derived from "literature", then it could make sense, since a lot of literature is just fiction and lies these days.

yes, it seems it does come from writing....maybe the word 'FoxNewsly' could be used instead then...

eg. Ketchup is FoxNewsly made using tomatoes.

 

[Blobbenstein]

That's not the answer you were looking for?

I took the literal meaning of your question, and answered it.... literally.

I was literally asking for the recipe for pumpkin pancakes, so yes you did.

 

[beancounter]

I was literally asking for the recipe for pumpkin pancakes, so yes you did.

Well like pumpkin beer, pumkin pancakes don't have much taste unless you add spices to the mixture.

 

[yakherder]

I'm gonna replace "literally" with "like, totally". All the example sentences I can think of offhand seem to work.

 

[Dedalus]

Irregardless, people are going to abuse words and their definitions - and even words that aren't words will make it into the dictionary.

^That one really bugs me.

 

[Spang]

"what word could be used instead of 'literally'"

I literally do not know.

 

[KLS52]

Right or wrong, I use actually and literally interchangeably and will, most likely continue to do so.

"I literally jumped for joy upon hearing the news"...meaning I was, indeed (or actually), jumping up and down.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I suppose the literally part refers to the following statement as a metaphor. So if someone says 'the bowler was literately on fire', that he was metaphorically on fire, and that he was literately metaphorically on fire.
In that sense 'literally' hasn't changed its meaning and still refers to an actual situation.

 

[FortyTwo]

I don't think anyone in here is arguing against this usage of 'literally,' it just reminded me and I think this is amusing.

Also:

Both are from xkcd of course.

 

[Blobbenstein]

that first cartoon isn't true though, due to the butterfly effect.

 

[FortyTwo]

that first cartoon isn't true though, due to the butterfly effect.

Unless his actions just didn't end up affecting the scene shown in any way visible at the level of detail given.

 

[Blobbenstein]

Unless his actions just didn't end up affecting the scene shown in any way visible at the level of detail given.

then it would be misleading of the ghost to show him something specific that wouldn't be any different.

 

[FortyTwo]

then it would be misleading of the ghost to show him something specific that wouldn't be any different.

I can think of several situations in which it wouldn't change much of anything, but I don't think what Mr. Munroe was going for that level of detail anyway.

You sure are over-analyzing this comic about not over-analyzing something.

 

[beancounter]

Weird Al has something to say about the use of the word literally...

 

[ledboots]

I love Al.