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I can't help myself. You were literally shocked?
by abraininavat 14y ago
I can't help myself. You were literally shocked?
- lifthrasiir 14y agoUhm, no, I exaggerated the fact a bit. But I certainly spewed a drink.
- andrewflnr 14y agoMaybe if you sprayed onto a badly-insulated keyboard, you could create a short circuit through your fingers, and be both metaphorically and literally shocked, as well as having literally spewed.
- kaoD 14y agoC'mon guys, it's an oxymoron. He doesn't mean he was literraly shocked, but "metaphorically" is too soft to be used.
- kaoD 14y agoI've read this comment again. I didn't mean oxymoron, I meant hyperbole (just in case my children read this in 2034, I don't want them to think I'm an idiot).
- voodoo 14y agoI was theoretically shocked.
- kemayo 14y agoSince "shocked" is a synonym of "surprised" / "startled", I think literally is fair in this case. I'd believe that he was literally surprised by the news!
- baddox 14y agoAlso, one common usage of "literally" is to describe a figurative or hyperbolic phrase. This usage is well over a century old, and I doubt you can find an English dictionary which does not contain it.
- coldtea 14y agoPerhaps you are one of those semi-informed people that don't know the definition of "literally" and go around bothering folks with ill-conceived pedantry? From dictionary.com: 1. in the literal or strict sense: What does the word mean literally? 2. in a literal manner; word for word: to translate literally. 3. actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy: The city was literally destroyed. 4. in effect; in substance; very nearly; virtually. Notice definition #4.