Dear Madison Avenue: Learn what “Literally” Means
Dear Madison Avenue,
Stop using the word “literally” to introduce a metaphor.
The Geico gecko says, “They literally hand you an english muffin with butter and jam. – That’s a complete a dramatization…” Some annoying woman in a vehix.com ad says, “You can go on the website and literally take a test drive. – You’re practically sitting in the car.”
“Literal” means
actual: being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something; “her actual motive”; “a literal solitude like a desert”- G.K. … without interpretation or embellishment; “a literal depiction of the scene before him” limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text; “a literal translation” avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis); “it’s the literal truth”
None of these definitions allows you to use “literal” to embellish the story. In fact, it’s literally forbidden.
Please stop. Please please please stop.
Honestly. Who taught you how to do this stuff? Alanis Morissette?
