The words “literally” and “figuratively” have opposite meanings, but “literally” can also be used as a hyperbole. “Literally” means not exaggerated, while “figurative” means metaphorical. Examples of literal sentences are given, as well as figures of speech. Sometimes it is necessary to include a disclaimer such as “figuratively” to clarify whether something is being said literally or figuratively. Confusion arises when “literally” is used as a hyperbole, but this usage appears in major dictionaries.
“Literally” and “figuratively” are words whose primary meanings are opposite. The term “literally”, however, can also be used as a hyperbole to mean the same as “figuratively”. By its primary definition, “literally” means that an utterance or phrase is not exaggerated or embellished – it means exactly what the words suggest. The definition of “figurative” is that words are metaphorical: they are a figure of speech intended to convey something other than their literal meaning. Many words and phrases can be used both literally and figuratively.
Examples of literal sentences
A person might use “literally” to emphasize that what is being said is the absolute truth. For example, a man might say, “I literally fainted at the sight of blood” to emphasize that not only does he feel nauseated when he sees blood, but he actually loses consciousness. A girl might say, “My sister literally took every dress I had in my closet” to emphasize that her sister didn’t leave a single dress in the closet.
Figures of speech
When a person says something that is not meant to be taken literally – or that means exactly what the words say – the sentence is being used figuratively. For example, a teen might say, “When I heard the ice cream van outside, I flew out the front door and out onto the street.” Naturally, the boy did not fly, he just ran quickly, so the word “flew” is used in a figurative sense. When someone says, “I died laughing,” he or she isn’t actually dead, so the phrase is just a figure of speech.
When people use figures of speech, they often don’t state them, especially when they’re obvious. For example, a woman probably wouldn’t say, “I froze to death, figuratively speaking,” because if she actually froze to death, she wouldn’t be talking. Likewise, the guy who “flew out the front door” wouldn’t need to point out that he actually he can’t fly. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to include a disclaimer such as “figuratively” to clarify whether something is being said literally or figuratively.
“Literally” as Hyperbole
Confusion sometimes arises when the term “literally” is used as a hyperbole, to exaggerate what is being said beyond its literal meaning. Although some people find this usage of “literally” incorrect, this definition appears in major dictionaries. An example of this usage would be a theater critic claiming that an actress “literally stole the show”. Adding “literally” emphasizes or exaggerates that the actress was the highlight of the performance, rather than implying that she was guilty of some kind of theft. Another example would be a teenager who says, “I literally wanted to die when my parents showed up at the party.” The word “literally” adds emphasis to the girl’s embarrassment rather than implying that she actually had suicidal thoughts.
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