Re^5: poll ideas quest 2015

Well, you're right -- it would not make much sense to say "I figuratively died laughing!", despite the fact that figuratively is exactly how the speaker is using the word "died". Even so, a careful speaker might say:

I died laughing (figuratively speaking).

Comment on Re^5: poll ideas quest 2015

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Re^6: poll ideas quest 2015 by chacham (Prior) on May 19, 2015 at 16:59 UTC
I died laughing (figuratively speaking). But, as parenthesis are not vocalized, that would come mean that he died while speaking in figures. And you thought you had math problems. :)	[reply]
Re^7: poll ideas quest 2015 by jdporter (Paladin) on May 19, 2015 at 23:55 UTC
You mean if it was said verbally? Somehow I don't think that would be a problem in reality; people use tone of voice -- which, incidentally, is hard to capture in writing. :-)	[reply]
Re^8: poll ideas quest 2015 by chacham (Prior) on May 20, 2015 at 12:04 UTC
You mean if it was said verbally? "Say", especially when italicized and within context of people speaking, seems to say that. :)	[reply]