Figuratively sick of just how many times people repeat the word "literally", a New York bar owner has decided to ban patrons who use the word in the premises.
"Sorry but if you say the word "literally" inside Continental you have 5 minutes to finish your drink and then you must leave," a sign on the bar window reads.
"If you actually start a sentence with "I literally" you must leave immediately!!! This is the most overused, annoying word in the English language and we will not tolerate it. Stop Kardashianism now!"
Bar owner Trigger Smith admits his policy is tongue-in-cheek but he really can't stand how often people use the word "literally".
"And it's not just millennials. Now you hear newscasters using 'literally' every three minutes on the Sunday news shows," he told Grub Street. "What's annoying is people aren't even aware they're saying it. How could you be so unaware of your words that it's coming out every couple minutes?"
While some agree that the word is definitely overused and even suggest other expressions to ban ("like", "at the end of the day"), not everyone thinks Smith should ban customers for using a harmless adverb.
Some are even calling it an assault on "free speech".
The sign has been up for a couple of weeks.
Smith is probably not worried about the backlash as the bar is set to close down in a few months anyway.