Meaning of 'literally' shrinking away

Inappropriate use of the word "literally" has become so commonplace it is now "epidemic", a leading author said yesterday.

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, incorrectly used the word to describe high earners when he said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph: "You see people literally in a different galaxy who are paying extraordinarily low rates of tax."

Writer and comedian Paul Parry was scathing about the Deputy Prime Minister's slip. He told Today: "This is probably the worst thing Nick Clegg has ever done. He's just completely misusing the word."

He added: "It's not about pedantry, it's about communication. The key thing is the word 'literally' is a safe word.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/9137930/Meaning-of-literally-shrinking-away.html