You can't "lock" something that doesn't exist.

[Iscah]

Whoever came up with that definition was wrong. I don't think there is a single instance where you could replace the word "literally" with "figuratively" and have it make sense. I *figuratively* can't think of anything where it would actually have the same effect instead of just looking ridiculous, seeing as the word "literally" in these cases doesn't actually mean "figuratively", but is in fact used as an interjection meant to emphasise a point.

It's certainly wrong, but unfortunately that that doesn't stop people from using it wrongly.

It's not so much that they say "literally" where the word "figuratively" should be used in a sentence, but that they use it as an 'emphasis word' for something that isn't literal at all.

eg. After a busy day at work, they might say "I had to deal with literally thousands of customers today", when actually it might have been a hundred or so.


I remember one of my teachers used it (literally!) all the time, and it grated on my nerves so much. D: