I think instead of saying “I didn’t mean it literally” in the last panel, you should say “I didn’t mean right away.” Using “literally” would imply that “I have to breastfeed soon” was a figure of speech.
This is actually interestingly vague as to whether it’s correct. After significant thought though, I think how this works is that, because “soon” is vague as to when exactly it means, you shouldn’t use literally to modify it, since it would still be “literally soon” in the morning, or in two days, or…
If you’d used a stricter time modifier, like “tonight” or even “now”, though, then you could modify that with literally.
However, a different interpretation works; if we take it to mean that you were expecting to need to do something with the kids as soon as you got home, but it wasn’t breastfeeding, then it could be breastfeeding that you didn’t mean literally. I don’t think that was what you meant, though.
My main nitpick with the expression is that an excuse is not a figure of speech. For example: you said “John has two left feet” because John’s a bad dancer, then found out he actually does have left feet. Then it would be acceptable to say “he LITERALLY has two left feet”, because the expression is originally intended as a figure of speech.
That being said, I don’t think your delivery of the line was hard to understand. I get the joke. This is just a nitpick, so really you could leave it as is.
There are lots of ways that you could have phrased it, but honestly, it works fine as it is. Perhaps some of the people who don’t immediately get that you were making an excuse think that the words must be confusing, instead of thinking about it for a moment. The words themselves make sense and convey the message of “that was SUPPOSED to be an excuse” just fine.
I think instead of saying “I didn’t mean it literally” in the last panel, you should say “I didn’t mean right away.” Using “literally” would imply that “I have to breastfeed soon” was a figure of speech.
Hmm, interesting! Even if it’s the “soon” part I didn’t mean literally?
No she’s right. She used breastfeeding as an excuse to leave the party but realised once she got home she actually had to lol
This is actually interestingly vague as to whether it’s correct. After significant thought though, I think how this works is that, because “soon” is vague as to when exactly it means, you shouldn’t use literally to modify it, since it would still be “literally soon” in the morning, or in two days, or…
If you’d used a stricter time modifier, like “tonight” or even “now”, though, then you could modify that with literally.
However, a different interpretation works; if we take it to mean that you were expecting to need to do something with the kids as soon as you got home, but it wasn’t breastfeeding, then it could be breastfeeding that you didn’t mean literally. I don’t think that was what you meant, though.
That’s how I read it, too.
I… I guess I can leave it like that then?
It make perfect sense, just people not realising you were using breastfeeding as an excuse to leave the party I think
It doesn’t make sense even if it was used as an excuse.
I’m confused now. @_@
What if i just changed the wording to “This is not what I meant”?
I was never confused! To me it makes total sense. My two cents is that you can leave it the way it is. (I hope this doesn’t confuse you more!)
My main nitpick with the expression is that an excuse is not a figure of speech. For example: you said “John has two left feet” because John’s a bad dancer, then found out he actually does have left feet. Then it would be acceptable to say “he LITERALLY has two left feet”, because the expression is originally intended as a figure of speech.
That being said, I don’t think your delivery of the line was hard to understand. I get the joke. This is just a nitpick, so really you could leave it as is.
Very related link: http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Soon
There are lots of ways that you could have phrased it, but honestly, it works fine as it is. Perhaps some of the people who don’t immediately get that you were making an excuse think that the words must be confusing, instead of thinking about it for a moment. The words themselves make sense and convey the message of “that was SUPPOSED to be an excuse” just fine.