Or section c of this OED entry: http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/109061?redirectedFrom=literally&#38 http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/109061?redirectedFrom=literall..

Or section c of this OED entry: http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/109061?redirectedFrom=literally&#38 http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/109061?redirectedFrom=literall...; "c. colloq. Used to indicate that some (freq. conventional) metaphorical or hyperbolical expression is to be taken in the strongest admissible sense: ‘virtually, as good as’; (also) ‘completely, utterly, absolutely’. Now one of the most common uses, although often considered irregular in standard English since it reverses the original sense of literally (‘not figuratively or metaphorically’)." Which is followed by examples dating back to 1769.