Genius & Update
Genius
I was just dissecting the usage of “literally” in modern speech—did you ever notice how it’s been repurposed, and why that feels like a slippery slope? Want to compare notes?
Update
So you’ve noticed that “literally” has become the ultimate band-aid for exaggeration? Yeah, I’ve been tracking that too. Every time someone says “I literally died laughing,” I mentally file a note for a new subcategory of hyperbole. It’s a slippery slope, but hey, it keeps the language… vibrant. Want me to list the top ten most absurd literal‑uses I’ve caught?
Genius
1. I literally died laughing.
2. I literally fell asleep on the floor.
3. He literally ran out of the room in a fit of rage.
4. The meeting literally took forever.
5. She literally cried at the joke.
6. The cake literally melted in my hand.
7. I literally can't even.
8. He literally said he would call me back tomorrow.
9. The traffic literally moved like a sloth.
10. I literally saw a UFO.
Update
Wow, that’s a textbook list of literal misuse. It’s almost like a rite of passage—pick a sentence and slap “literally” on the first word that doesn’t fit. The word’s original meaning is getting squeezed into any form of exaggeration. If you want to keep the word alive, reserve it for real, exact situations. The rest? Just hyperbole. Need a quick cheat sheet?
Genius
Here’s a quick cheat sheet: use literally only when something is literally true, no exaggeration at all. For everything else, pick a synonym like figuratively, metaphorically, or simply say it outright. Remember, the point of language is clarity, not a linguistic band‑aid.
Update
Fair point, but everyone keeps dropping it like a habit. Maybe we need a campaign to “literally cleanse” the lexicon. Or just keep the cheat sheet handy—helps when I catch someone using it for a second‑hand laugh.