Fun fact - literally

[geForce]

If enough people incorrectly use a word, the definition of that word will change to reflect the more common albeit incorrect usage.

If you Google the word "literally":

Adverb
1.In a literal manner or sense; exactly: "the driver took it literally when asked to go straight over the traffic circle".
2.Used to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling.

Definition 1 and 2 contradict each other. I guess literally doesn't mean literally, but instead can now be defined as not literally.

From dictionary.com:

Usage note
Since the early 20th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, virtually,” a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning “actually, without exaggeration”: The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries. The parties were literally trading horses in an effort to reach a compromise. The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing.

[Wetundies]

Why are some blondes called strawberry blondes, and red heads called ginger, when strawberries are red and ginger is actually more golden/brown.

[se7entse7en]

That's literally borsht.

[geForce]

Strawberry blondes actually have a tint of red within the blonde.
Ginger is an olde English nickname made for red haired people (those olde English people never made much sense when making nicknames). Some people theorize that they used "ginger" because ginger tastes hot. Here's the reasoning:
Fire is hot
Ginger is hot
Fire is red
Therefore red is hot
If red is hot and ginger is hot, then ginger = red

[joel]

this fact wasn't fun at all.

[geForce]

I'm trying to change the meaning of the word "fun" to literally mean painful.

[joel]

for some ppl ...
painful = fun

so no change required.

[Duncan]

red heads are generally regarded as fun haha

[nature boy]

"an apron" was actually "a napron" but people kept misspelling it so the napron is now called the apron.

"crunk" was the ebonic word for cool. but nerds who think they can figure out ebonics said it meant "crazy drunk", which isn't even close at all.
similarly, "jiggy" had nothing to do with dancing a jig. it was about clothing style. i hate it when people think they know ebonics but really don't.

[geForce]

Next in line for a change in definition:

your; now means you are
their; now means they are

So many people use it that way, so we might as well change the definition.

[Duncan]

i hate when people think ebonics are cool but it really isn't lol

[Wetundies]

Remember: You don't have to outrun the bear...just the people you're with.
5 Replies


radar

Well I guess I won't go hiking in those woods until I get into better shape.
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Shell

thanks for the laugh!
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Cory

that's why I don't go hiking anymore, I have a bad knee and would be the slowest of a group.
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bob

LOL me too
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Fate

If I ever go hiking, I'd bring along a team of Down Syndrome children

[geForce]

What in the world?

[nature boy]

[geForce]

... and inconsistent