literally

literally

Figuratively. Opposite to the original meaning of "literally," it is used to add hyperbolic emphasis to a statement. I'm so hungry, I could literally eat a horse right now. We have literally been waiting an eternity for you to get here. What took you so long?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

literally

mod. figuratively; absolutely. (Literally is frequently used colloquially for emphasis and not with its literal meaning.) When I saw him I literally died! There were literally thousands at our house for the Super Bowl. The flu was so bad that I literally coughed my head off.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • be lost in translation
  • et vir
  • eagle-eyed
  • cure
  • disease
  • a cure worse than the ailment
  • a cure worse than the disease
  • a treatment worse than the disease
  • ailment
  • beat the hell out of
References in periodicals archive
One viewer tweeted: "Literally hoping Anton doesn't mean literally."
Love Island's Anton raises ire of Strictly star
Moreover, we can also ask whether the indwelling of the Spirit literally capacitated them to speak in various languages previously unfamiliar to them.
Empowered to love
These days, literally is often used as a crutch word, and arrived on the scene as such around the time young people started saying 'like' unecessarily.
Bar bans customers from saying 'most annoying word in the English language'; Bar owners want to quell the tide of Kardashianism and put up a strongly worded notice informing customers
But if you take the bad tempered Old Testament law book literally, kids would also be executed for swearing at parents and we'd face damnation for eating prawn sandwiches.
Cracking the whip
Bridgestone UK managing director Robin Shaw explained the move: "There are literally millions of tyres on our roads which are illegal and pose a danger to other motorists' lives.
Tyre fines should be mandatory; Motors briefs
22 April 2016 - US-based ad tech and digital content company Literally Media has acquired Israeli humour brand Cheezburger, the company said.
Literally Media Acquires Humour Site Cheezburger
I think it made them arrogant, they were literally unassailable, they could literally do what they wished and they literally did."
SINN FEIN MAKE HUGE GAINS ON NIGHT OF SHOCKS
'ISIS ARE LITERALLY THE WORST': UBERPOOLING WITH UBERMILLENNIALS IN NEW YORK CITY A ride on UberPool took this blogger on a trip with Millennials grossed out by Daesh.
Millennial Uber riders confirm ISIS is literally the worst
Scott Walker to stop playing one of their songs, saying on Twitter that ''We literally hate you.''
Band to Gov. Walker: 'We literally hate you'
Redfoo has caused massive outrage when he released his song "Literally I Can't" earlier this month.
Redfoo Sorry 'From the Bottom of His Heart' For Releasing 'Literally I Can't' [VIDEO]
Synopsis: Three in four Americans consider the Bible to be God's word, with 28% saying it should be taken literally and 47% saying it is open to interpretation.
Three in Four in U.S. Still See the Bible as Word of God; But 21%, near the 40-year high, consider it fables and history
The MP told the House of Commons: "When the new homes bonus policy came in, Gateshead literally did not know what to do with its new homes bonus.
Housing bonus policy criticised
LAUGHING could have you in stitches - literally - according to new research from Birmingham academics.
Laughing? Be careful... it can be lethal
Summary: It was a gift from the heavens, literally. Nokia Middle East launched its anticipated smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 1020, with a sensational marketing gimmick on Tuesday that saw its vice-president Tom Farrell skydive down at The Palm Jumeirah with the sleek model attached to his helmet.
It's raining smartphones in Dubai!
Not long ago we mocked Nick Clegg for describing voters who "literally live in another galaxy".
IFIND I'm gradually gaining [...]; COLUMNIST