I figurtively want to kill people who misuse 'literally'

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Michele Bachmann Claims Obamacare Will ‘Literally’ Kill Women, Is Literally an Idiot

"Let's repeal this failure before it literally kills women, kills children, kills senior citizens," Bachmann said on the House floor. "Let's not do that. Let's love people. Let's care about people. Let's repeal it now while we can." She also accused Obama of wanting the government to take over health care. "What he demanded and insisted upon is that the government have 100 percent control over health care," Bachmann said.

I'm scared that somehow Bachmann and Palin will combine to form a Voltron of unstoppably inaccurate and lying statements.

Comments

[bikinisquad3000.livejournal.com]

In fairness that's an accepted way to say it. (So is "have your cake and eat it too," and that one drives me up the wall, let me tell you.)

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Like "I should be so lucky" really doesn't make sense if taken literally.

[brother-dour.livejournal.com]

See, to me "I could care less" implies that some level of care and concern, albeit small, is present. However, what people mean when they say that is really, "I couldn't care less"- they're already giving zero f&%ks about the issue as it is, so it is impossible to give fewer. They are incapable of caring less, so why do they use the word 'could' which implies otherwise?

Silly semantics issue I know, but that phrase annoys me.

[bikinisquad3000.livejournal.com]

Heh, me too. Originally it was sarcasm, is how it worked, and now it's been repeated so many times nobody says it the right way, but it still has the sarcastic meaning. Idioms are strange things.