darkSpyro

I want to literally rip their hearts out.


Now, let me explain what that means.

While "ripping one's heart out" might normally be used as an expression for something being sad or heartbreaking, such as a scene in a book or movie, adding the word "literally" changes the meaning to one actually opening one's rip cage, grabbing the physical heart, and pulling it out.


You cannot say "I literally don't know" or "I literally don't care," because that doesn't make any sense. The same goes for things like "You are literally so annoying" or "Literally stop being so dumb."


Saying something along the lines of "We're literally out of gas" or "I literally can't afford this" is not technically incorrect, but it's pointless, as removing "literally" won't change the meaning very much.


When StriderSwag told me to "Literally stop being such a jackass," that made no sense, because I am not a donkey (unless, of course, his intention was to call me one, but we all know he's not that witty). (loljkbrooramiwinkwink)


"So, Metallo, how can I use the word 'literally' to be clever while still retaining its meaning?"

I'm glad you asked. You just have to find a situation where it applies.

For example, if you have some sort of disease that interferes with your daily life and annoys you, you can say "This disease really gets on my nerves." However, if that disease affects your nervous system, you can say "This disease literally gets on my nerves," which changes the meaning to indicate that it attacks your actual nerves.


This has been an English lesson from Metallo. Use it wisely.

Literally an english major.

I've literally never seen anybody use the word in any of the ways you demonstrated for either correct nor incorrect.

Quote: Bifrost

Literally an english major.

Reveal Spoiler

I don't know if you majored in English but if you did the joke kinda stops working D:

Journalism. Close enough!

So the grammar nazis who corrected were wrong and I was right?

I literally knew the meaning of the word before reading this.

And it's literally common knowledge...

tl;dr but I'm gonna use it however I want because **** you.

Quote: WWECOLAPUNK

I literally knew the meaning of the word before reading this.

Quote: WWECOLAPUNK

And it's literally common knowledge...

Quote: StriderSwag

tl;dr but I'm gonna use it however I want because **** you.

aaaaaaaaaaand that's why you go to community college

Warning: Language

But Metallo doesn't the word have a second definition?????

Quote: somePerson

But Metallo doesn't the word have a second definition?????

For emphasis, yes, mostly with quantitative properties. That would go along with the second examples I used (gas and money).

Saying "There are literally thousands of dogs at the shelter" is still not incorrect, because removing "literally" would still portray the main idea that there are many dogs at the shelter.

Quote: Metallo

Quote: StriderSwag

tl;dr but I'm gonna use it however I want because **** you.

aaaaaaaaaaand that's why you go to community college

Is that supposed to be an insult?

what this topic literally is

I'm behind the idea of a lesson in the proper use of literally but not so much the backhanded jab.

okay can we all just chill out and marvel over the glory of the intel core i7-4910mq

Quote: CAV

I'm behind the idea of a lesson in the proper use of literally but not so much the backhanded jab.

Agreed. Not everybody has the opportunity to attend higher places of education.

I literally didn't understand a literal word you just literally said.