Comments on: literally raining cats

By: John

John — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:26:53 +0000

This is a really interesting example actually, I’ve seen/heard this kind of thing before - where someone uses “literally” to describe a common metaphor that’s being used in a *less* figurative sense than usual. It’s “raining cats” not in the sense that it’s raining a lot, but in the sense that it’s (figuratively raining) (actual cats). Is there a better word for that? I can’t think of one myself.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:09:32 +0000

love it.. stumnbled on from toshistation..

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:50:12 +0000

Or “unnecessary”, as the case may be. Damn, I should start a spelling blog.

By: thebewilderness

thebewilderness — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 22:20:04 +0000

In the Puget Sound region precipitation is always assumed.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:23:21 +0000

I have become an instant fan of this site, and stated my love in my similar grammar blog, the “blog” of “unneccesary” quotation marks. Linky post here.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:21:56 +0000

I stumbled on your page by way of a Firefox plugin, and I’m glad I did. I love it!

By: Robert F.

Robert F. — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 02:50:33 +0000

(sigh) I always attempt to find some way to salvage the dignity of someone who misuses “literally” and end up trying to imagine some scenario where what they describe “literally” takes place. Could the cats have climbed on top of buildings and fallen onto people “like rain”? I know, it’s a stretch. LOL