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."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"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.
-
5 capitulating cartoons about the Democrat's shutdown surrenderCartoons Artists take on Democrat's folding, flag-waving, and more
-
How are these Epstein files so damaging to Trump?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As Republicans and Democrats release dueling tranches of Epstein-related documents, the White House finds itself caught in a mess partially of its own making
-
Margaret Atwood’s memoir, intergenerational trauma and the fight to make spousal rape a crime: Welcome to November booksThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts’ by Margaret Atwood, ‘Cursed Daughters’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite and 'Without Consent' by Sarah Weinman
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
