literally \Lit"er*al*ly : adv.
1. emphatically. syn. EmphaticLike [read: "emphatic-like", not "emphatic 'like'"] 2. figuratively. Usage Note: Usually uttered perfervidly.
I literally died of embarrassment. -- JosephTurian
int. 1. used to express irony or lack of truth. syn. "Not!"
I just put the check in the mail. Literally! -- JosephTurian
File under: LanguageDrift, CategoryIdiom
- cf. SimileBecameMetaphor
- cf. RealSoonNow
- cf. BadMeaningBad not BadMeaningGood