Sean Hannity spectacularly misuses the word 'literally'
The word "literally" has gotten quite a few people into trouble lately.
The word technically means "in a literal manner or sense; exactly." You use it to signal that This actually, truly happened and I am not exaggerating. So when Trump spokesman Katrina Pierson said "left-wing reporters … literally" beat Trump supporters, she implied CNN and Fox News were out on the streets with clubs (they weren't).
"Literally" got conservative talk show host Sean Hannity into an awkward spot Tuesday, too. Speaking on Fox News' morning show, Hannity ranted about how the media, and in particular CNN, are "so in the tank, so on board for Hillary."
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"This is the kind of coverage that CNN offers in this presidential race as they literally kiss Hillary Clinton's ass and Obama's ass every day," Hannity said.
Replace "literally" with "figuratively," and he might have an argument. Otherwise ... don't think about that one too hard.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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