SSTF@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world · 7 months agoWhen did you (literally or figuratively) dodge a bullet?message-squaremessage-square92fedilinkarrow-up11arrow-down10
arrow-up11arrow-down1message-squareWhen did you (literally or figuratively) dodge a bullet?SSTF@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world · 7 months agomessage-square92fedilink
minus-squareall-knight-party@kbin.runlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·7 months agoI would assume through context clues that “figuratively” in this context means narrowly avoiding a bad situation, and “literally” means avoiding your death regardless of whether it has to do with a literal bullet or not.
minus-squarenjm1314@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·7 months agoIt’s an odd assumption to make when it’s not the meaning of the word literally. That’s literally the meaning of the word figuratively.
minus-squareall-knight-party@kbin.runlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·7 months agoI think we’ve had enough years on this planet to realize people use the word literally incorrectly almost as often as they use it correctly.
I would assume through context clues that “figuratively” in this context means narrowly avoiding a bad situation, and “literally” means avoiding your death regardless of whether it has to do with a literal bullet or not.
It’s an odd assumption to make when it’s not the meaning of the word literally. That’s literally the meaning of the word figuratively.
I think we’ve had enough years on this planet to realize people use the word literally incorrectly almost as often as they use it correctly.