• Nollij@sopuli.xyz
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      4 months ago

      The term frequently means narrowly avoiding a bad outcome, regardless of how it happens. Often it’s nothing more than Mr Magoo-ing out of the way.

      There are remarkably few people in the world who can actually dodge a literal bullet. Everything else is just luck or escaping.

      • njm1314@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Yes that’s what the term means figuratively. However having read the title I was referring to the other part.

        • all-knight-party@kbin.run
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          4 months ago

          I would assume through context clues that “figuratively” in this context means narrowly avoiding a bad situation, and “literally” means avoiding your death regardless of whether it has to do with a literal bullet or not.

          • njm1314@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            It’s an odd assumption to make when it’s not the meaning of the word literally. That’s literally the meaning of the word figuratively.

            • all-knight-party@kbin.run
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              4 months ago

              I think we’ve had enough years on this planet to realize people use the word literally incorrectly almost as often as they use it correctly.