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Literalize for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: 'lɪtərə,laɪz

What does Literalize really mean?

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Hey there, my awesome student! Let's dive right into the meaning of the word "literalize." Now, imagine you're reading a story or listening to someone talk. Sometimes people say things that aren't meant to be taken exactly as they say it. They might use words or expressions that have a hidden or symbolic meaning. But "literalize" means taking those words or expressions exactly as they are said and not giving any other interpretation or meaning to them. It's like taking everything super seriously and not looking for any deeper understanding behind what's being said.

To put it another way, you can think of "literalize" like a pair of really cool glasses that you can put on. When you wear these glasses, you only see things in their most straightforward and literal sense. You don't try to see any hidden meanings or read between the lines. It's like viewing the world in black and white, without any shades of gray.

Now, let's explore some examples to make this even clearer. Imagine someone says, "I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse!" If you take that sentence literally, it means that person wants to eat a whole horse, which sounds pretty crazy, right? But if you don't "literalize" it, and instead understand it as an expression to show how hungry someone is, you can see that they're just really, really hungry, but they don't actually want to eat a horse.

Another example could be when someone says, "It's raining cats and dogs." If you "literalize" that phrase, you might imagine cute little kittens and fluffy puppies falling from the sky. But we know that's not what it really means. It just means that it's raining really hard.

So, my friend, "literalize" simply means taking things exactly as they are said, without trying to find any hidden meanings or interpretations. It's like viewing the world through super straightforward glasses. Remember, sometimes it's important to think beyond the literal meaning of things and consider the context or deeper intention behind what someone is saying. But other times, we just need to take things as they are and not overthink them.

Revised and Fact checked by Olivia White on 2023-10-29 02:13:01

Literalize In a sentece

Learn how to use Literalize inside a sentece

  • If you say 'I'm as hungry as a horse,' it means you're very hungry. But if you 'literalize' it, it means you actually turn into a horse when you're hungry!
  • When we say it's raining cats and dogs, we don't mean that animals are falling from the sky. But if we 'literalize' it, it would mean that actual cats and dogs are pouring down with the rain!
  • If someone tells you to break a leg before a performance, they don't want you to actually harm yourself. But if we 'literalize' it, it would mean you have to go and break a real leg!
  • When we say 'I could eat a horse,' we don't mean we want to devour an entire horse. But if we 'literalize' it, it would mean we're really hungry and planning to eat a whole horse!
  • If someone says 'My brain is fried,' they don't mean that their brain is actually cooked. But if we 'literalize' it, it would mean their brain has transformed into a crispy fried snack!

Literalize Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Literalize Antonyms

Words that have the opposite context of the original word.

Literalize Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.