History Main / Literalmetaphor

* Robert Metcalfe, an engineer helped develop the early web and co-invented Ethernet, wrote a column in 1995 predicting that the Internet would "catastrophic collapse". It didn't, and in 1998, he ate his words at an internet conference--literally, by bringing a copy of his column, blending it and eating it.

* In October 2022, an article in ''The Economist'' compared the short length of embattled British Prime Minister Liz Truss' reign[[note]]she'd been in the job for five weeks by that point, but part of that was taken up by the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II[[/note]] to the shelf-life of a head of lettuce. [[UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers British tabloid]] ''The Daily Star'' seized on the metaphor and began a livestream of an actual head of lettuce next to a framed picture of Truss, asking readers which of them would last longer. Six days into the stream, with the lettuce still fresh, Truss announced her resignation.

* In the ''Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures'' novel ''Set Piece'', the Doctor explains to Ace that he had to pull a MemoryGambit to stop the BigBad discovering his plan, but not only has he forgotten the plan, he's also forgotten what the mnemonic trigger that would restore it was. He tells her "I've completely lost my marbles", and she remembers that earlier, he gave her a bag of marbles...

* In ComicBook/ArchieComics, the not-too-bright "Big Moose" sometimes has these. For instance, he once wrote Santa Claus for a pair of shoes with suction-cups so he can stay "on the ball", like his teacher is always telling him to do.

* In one of the funniest moments in the ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' Pro-scene, Eric Taylor swore that if Kai Budde won the Pro-tour that he was competing in, he would eat his hat. And when Kai Budde won the tournament, Eric [[https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/event-coverage/eric-taylor-eats-his-hat-2000-01-01 proved to everyone he was a man of his word.]]

* One scenario in ''Blog/WhatIf'' involves glasses literally half empty. As in, glasses with one half containing only vacuum like space.
* On Website/Vine, DeStorm Power gives us [[https://vine.co/v/OHiaDtEXtHx this gem]]:
--->'''Klarity:''' Where's my money?\\
'''DeStorm:''' I'm broke\\
'''Klarity:''' ''Smacks his teeth angrily''\\
''DeStorm suddenly collapses into broken pile with [[SickeningCrunch audible cracking sounds]]''
--->'''Klarity:''' [Horrified] [[NWordPrivileges NIGGA?!]]
--->''DeStorm looks up smug while [[Music/GEazy G-Eazy's I Mean It]] plays''

--> [[https://youtu.be/q7EbdAxWQ9g?t=455 If]] someone were ''smart'' and not bad at video games, they would've seen this coming, and left three easy shines laying around, but I unfortunately am neither of those things and have to do it while under literal fire

* In politics, it's a common insult to claim someone is so unpopular that they couldn't get elected dogcatcher, which is virtually never an elected position, save for Duxbury, Vermont, home to the only [[https://www.npr.org/2018/03/24/595755604/cant-get-elected-dogcatcher-try-running-in-duxbury-vt elected dogcatcher]] in the US - and probably the world, as countries other than the US are much more conservative about their list of elected positions. It's never been contested, so there has yet to be a documented case of someone losing an election for dogcatcher.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In ''Film/RogueOne'', Darth Vader's wordplay to Director Krennic -- "Be careful not to ''choke'' on your aspirations, Director." A good piece of advice to any over-ambitious Imperial, which becomes quite literal considering the Sith Lord is [[PsychicStrangle Force-choking]] Krennic while delivering it.

--->'''Klarity:''' [Horrified] [[NWordPrivleges NIGGA?!]]

* In ''Webcomic/FindersKeepers'', Death sends Cailyn Asher a knife after Card asks for her (Death's) help. When Cailyn, Card, and Lady Scarring examine the knife later, Scarring calls it "the cutting edge." Cailyn of course asks what it is the cutting edge of, only to be told that the knife is '''the''' Cutting Edge, and it ''literally'' [[http://www.finderskeepers.gcgstudios.com/?p=comic&chap=1&cid=22 cuts theory from reality.]]

* ''Film/GlassOnion'': Towards the beginning, vapid and scandal-prone supermodel Birdie talks on the phone to her friends, who inquire about the whereabouts of her BeleaguredAssistant, Peg. Birdie explains Peg is busy "putting out a fire." Since Birdie is prone to making [[InnocentBigot accidentally racist remarks]] and overall having a bad case of OpenMouthInsertFoot syndrome, leaving Peg to handle the damage control, Claire asks what she said ''this'' time, but Birdie says that's not what she meant. Cue [[FunnyBackgroundEvent Peg running past Birdie with the fire extinguisher]].

* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': Mai's "supertaste" ability is so potent she can literally taste the love that Noel puts into her cooking. This is coincidentally the best way [[LethalChef to enjoy Noel Vermillion's cooking]].

* The ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'' mod CTGP-7 takes JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope Literally -- at ridiculously high ccs, everyone goes so fast they go flying off the track the moment they press A. [[ArtificialStupidity The computers are so stupid they go flying off the track within the first few seconds of the race]].

* The practice of "controlled burning", containing wildfires by setting smaller fires to use up the fuel and oxygen so the big fire can't spread, is a literal example of fighting fire with fire.
** This is actually the other way around: the metaphor of fighting fire with fire comes from the practice of controlled burning as an analogy.

* In ''Hench'', a book by Natalie Zina Walschots about corrupt superheros, data-crunching protagonist Anna discovers that the boyfriend-girlfriend superhero team Supercollider and Quantum Entanglement is mostly supported by ''Quantum's'' skill--her powers are stronger, she's overall more competent, and also, she's not a narcissistic monster. However, she's been forced into a TheChick type of role while Supercollider takes the lion's share of the credit, both because he emotionally abused her into it and because their superhero org picked the charismatic white guy over the Maori woman. At the end of the book it turns out that [[spoiler: Supercollider ''can't'' fly like everyone thought. Whenever it looked like he was flying, he actually "took off" by using his super-strength to jump really high, and Quantum levitated him the rest of the way. So she both figuratively ''and'' literally carried his ass.]]

** In ''Literature/GuardsGuards'', Nobby Nobbs tries to kicked a downed troll "[[GroinAttack in the stones]]", and nearly breaks his foot when it turns out ''those'' parts are made of rock, as well.

** "Seamstresses" has long been the UnusualEuphemism of choice for sex workers in Ankh-Morpork. This leads to occasional confusion, and so most brothels now keep a couple of non-euphemistic seamstresses on staff.

-->'''Lenny:''' Yeah, he is.