literally

littéralement

Indique que les mots gardent leur sens exact, sans image ni sens figuré.

En anglais simple : Exactly as the words describe, rather than as a way of expressing something else.

• The room was literally full of books.
• He literally fell asleep standing up.
• Did you mean that literally?

Comment l'utiliser : take something literally (She took my invitation literally and came immediately.)

Synonymes : actually

Contraires : figuratively

Expressions courantes : literally true, literally mean something, take something literally, literally fall apart

exactement, littéralement

Indique qu’une chose est exactement vraie, sans exagérer ni diminuer son importance.

En anglais simple : With no extra or reduced importance added to what is true.

• Her account was literally true.
• The claim is literally correct, although it sounds unlikely.
• Every detail he reported was literally accurate.

Synonymes : exactly, strictly

Expressions courantes : literally correct, literally accurate, literally true