how can we use LITERALLY?

0I think it is best used when using a phrase that is normally figurative.02br
02br
00For example...eating someones dust means losing to them in a race. If we were racing on a dirt track, and you were behind me, I could say that you were literally eating my dust.02br
02br
00Does that help?0-

0Well yes it helped me somewhat but still I want some more examples so that I can have an idea how to use it altough I understand what you said in your reply.I want some more example in which literally is being used I hope you 'll help me in this regard.And also do me favour,check my grammer mistakes also in my post.02br
02br
00gratefull[A]0-

0 And with his eyes he literally scoured the corners of his cell - Vladimir Nabokov, Invitation to a Beheading02br
02br
00Lily, the caretaker's daughter, was literally run off her feet. - James Joyce, Dubliners02br
02br
00They will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or unjustice - Norman Cousins, Saturday Review02br
02br

0Okay, I am one of those people who cringe when I hear "literally" used to mean "figuratively" -- even by the esteemed authors quoted by Alienvoord. I realize that this use is becoming more and more common, but I would suggest that English learners avoid it, if you don't want some people to think you just don't know the meaning of the word.02br
02br
00"Literally" means "exac

0 01blockquote

01cite10Khoff12cite10Okay, I am one of those people who cringe when I hear "literally" used to mean "figuratively" -- even by the esteemed authors quoted by Alienvoord. I realize that this use is becoming more and more common, but I would suggest that English learners avoid it, if you don't want some people to think you just don't know

0 Hey, Philip, you're up even earlier than I am today! But don't worry -- I won't say you're 01i00literally02i00 an early bird! It drives me crazy when people use "literally" to mean its exact opposite. 0-

0 01blockquote

01cite10Khoff12cite10Hey, Philip, you're up even earlier than I am today! But don't worry -- I won't say you're 11i10literally12i10 an early bird! It drives me crazy when people use "literally" to mean its exact opposite.12blockquote

10With respect, I'll go with the judgment of great writers l

0 01blockquote

01cite10Alienvoord12cite11blockquote

11cite20Khoff22cite20Hey, Philip, you're up even earlier than I am today! But don't worry -- I won't say you're 21i20literally22i20 an early bird! It drives me crazy when people use "literally" to mean its exact opposite.22blockquote

0 It isn't making the transition, it has made it. "Virtually" is one of the 05000. It has been used in a figurative sense since 1760.02br
02br
00Also it's not just great writers who are allowed to use figurative language. Everyone uses 05100.0230hrefhttp://m-w.com/dictionary/literallycmeanings of the word231hrefhttp://www.slate.com/id/2129105/cfigur

1font00Anyway, how is it different than figurative use of "really"? If I say "I'm really starving," that doesn't mean I'm starving for real.02font02br
02br
01font00That's a fair question, and I stopped to give it some thought before replying. First, I would have to say that I'm not crazy about "I'm really starvin