Literally

[kachibibb]

Say, someone succeeded mainly because of his luck. Say, there is a conversation. And I wonder if I can use "literally" like this to mean "simply because of luck".

Person A: Why was he so successful?
Person B: Literally, luck.

 

[Tarheel]

Say [no comma] someone succeeded mainly because of his luck. Say [no comma] there is a conversation. [STRIKE]And[/STRIKE] I wonder if I can use "literally" like this to mean "simply because of luck".

Person A: Why was he so successful?
Person B: Literally, luck.

It's OK.

 

[Tdol]

Literally is flexible in meaning- people say that there were literally a million people at the rally, when the factual number was nowhere near that, and this usage can be traced back to Shakespeare, and probably earlier. Literally, literally, has many meanings and uses, not all of them literal.

 

[jutfrank]

I would tell you not to use literally like that. What you seem to mean is Pure luck.

 

[Glizdka]

I like what Arika Okrent has to say about literally.

 

[Tdol]

I, literally, figuratively enjoyed that phenomenal video.