A pet peeve is defined as a recurring source of irritation. I have many, but my number one pet peeve, which makes me want to slap the offender, is the incorrect use of the word “literally.” So if you know me personally and would like to avoid a slap in the face (in my mind, because I’m all bark and no bite) — here is the lowdown.
LITERALLY means that whatever word or phrase follows it is actually true. If it’s not true, then it’s not literal. For example:
“I was so angry, smoke was literally coming out of my ears.”
WRONG! I have seen many angry people in my life, and none actually had smoke coming out of their ears.
“The lemon bars I made for the party were literally the only dessert items left on the buffet table.”
CORRECT! – if in fact you screwed up the recipe and the lemon bars sucked, and nobody touched them. Which is a true story.
“After nursing two kids, my boobs are literally touching the floor.”
WRONG! True, nursing is not kind to our girls, but they are touching your navel, not the floor.
“I literally hate housework more than watching “The Mummy” on TBS for the 20th time with my husband.”
CORRECT! I’m sick and tired of his favorite movie ever, but I hate housework even more.
So do me a favor, next time you want to say “I’m so hungry I could literally gnaw my hand off,” ditch the L word unless you’re gonna start munching on your pinkie. Because this pet peeve of mine literally makes me want to scream.
Hi Dana, I came over because you left a comment on my blog and I can tell I’m going to be here a LONG time laughing! I’m totally guilty of misusing “literally”, but it just sounds so much more emphatic when you put that word in the sentence. Even if it’s not literally true! Love your humor! 🙂
Thank you so much, and thanks for visiting! I’m glad you like my sense of humor – it’s literally one of my best qualities;)
I literally started laughing until I almost peed my pants. Seriously, it doesn’t take much after 4 kids LOL! And I thought I was the only one that had serious pet peeves:)
Sadly, I know how literal laughing until peeing can be, Nicky. And I have plenty more pet peeves; this one is just the biggest 🙂
I love this! I have plenty of pet peeves when it comes to the misuse of the English language. How about the now common misuse of troops to mean soldiers? I cannot STAND that. I literally feel myself getting agitated just thinking about it.
I don’t hear that one too often, but it’s gonna bug me now when I do! Thanks for visiting, Leslie.
I actually like this.
Actually, or literally? Never mind – in this case they are pretty much the same!
I literally laughed and laughed…but not until my head fell off, clearly!
Thanks for hooking up!
It was literally a pleasure, Molley 🙂
I literally rotfl. Ok, I didn’t really. 😀 Great pet peeve! And I did chuckle.
If you literally chuckled, my work here is done. Thanks Terrye!
Whenever I read remarks like that, I hear them in Rob Lowe’s voice from Parks and Rec. (I came from A Mother Life’s Hump Day Hook Up.)
Hmmm – a hot man talking in your head? Nice, Ginger!
You would last about 12 seconds in my house before wanting to put up your dukes. “Literally” slips into every sentence my teenager says. She could “literally” drive me to the insane asylum if she had her license. I guess until then, she will just drive me there figuratively.
HELP!
Oh yeah, I’d have to stop that overuse immediately. And excellent correct usage of literally, Julie. You get an A+ today 🙂
Ahhh ha ha ha! Big belly laugh! I’m so guilty of mis-using the word!
I get like this with any overused word. I had a co-worker who replied awesome to everything. Where I would say thank you she would say awesome. It didn’t help that she also said “exspecially”. That one literally makes my shoulders hit my ears.
Ha! You’re right – any overused word can become annoying. Except the phrase “You are right” – I never get tired of that.
Where do you stand on “technically”? My 7-yr-old lobbied to stay home alone today because “Technically I’m 8. Well, I’m in my 8th year of life.” It’s true that in 6 weeks she will literally be legal to stay home.
And for the record, my biggest pet peeve is public bathrooms without a purse/coat hook.
While I respect her linguistic prowess, technically you could be arrested for letting her stay home alone before her birthday. So you literally cannot do it…because I’m pretty sure there are no purse hooks in jail.
I am literally afraid that you may find numerous occasions that I have misused the word “literally” in my blog posts. Actually true.
It happens, Lori Ann. I won’t hold it against you. But you used it correctly in your comment, so thank you!
‘Literally’ is so misused and overused that I cannot stand it irregardless. See what I did there?
I see! Reminds me of another one – I could care less. Well then you obviously care! Thanks for sharing my pet peeve of misused words!
Hahaha! I love this, because I also hate this,. It’s just as bad as when someone tells me how someone else has made a complete 360, really?
Oooh, that’s a good one too! Thanks for commenting!
Amen sista and may I add my personal pet peeve?
The misuse of “moot” point. Its not a “mute” point. We can still hear the point, its just not worth debating.
Excellent pet peeve, Blix! Thanks for adding it to my list. 🙂
That was literally the most comprehensive study of the word “literally” I have ever read. I am literally glad that you linked up.
Thank you, and thank you for using the word correctly. Glad I linked up too!