A New York City bar is waging a war on hyperbole, banning customers who use the word “literally” from drinking on their premises.
The owner of East Village dive bar Continental posted a sign in the bar’s window last week, warning customers that if they use the L-word, “the most overused, annoying word in the English language," they will get the boot.
“Sorry but if you say the word ‘literally’ inside Continental you have 5 minutes to finish your drink and then you must leave,” the sign 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!” the notice ends.
Owner Trigger Smith told Grub Street that the policy is only tongue-in-cheek but that he really does despise the widespread incorrect use of the word.
“Since it’s English, it’s probably happening in England, and maybe Australia,” said Smith. “I had a woman from Miami the other night tell me it’s happening down there. And it’s not just millennials. Now you hear newscasters using ‘literally’ every three minutes on the Sunday news shows. 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?”
The sign gained attention after it was posted by an onlooker on Twitter.
Many found the bar’s sign amusing, one Twitter user calling it the “best thing ever” and others suggesting adding other phrases like “I have no words” and “the fact of the matter is—.”
Others disagreed.
One Twitter user called it an “overreaction.” Another went so far as to accuse Smith of being sexist:
“People like this don't give a s--- about language. They're just self-important, generally misogynistic blow hards who get off on feeling superior to (mostly) young women,” Twitter user Allegra Hobbs tweeted.
She went on, “By the way, this is the East Village bar that offers '5 shots of anything for $10' — presumably because they are valiant defenders and purveyors of highbrow culture, so keep your hyperbole out of their hallowed halls.”
Smith called the accusation of sexism “even funnier than the sign.”
“Anybody who knows me knows I’m a feminist who supports women’s rights and is 100 percent behind this whole ‘Me Too’ thing,” he said. “I guess people will find an issue in anything.”
Not afraid of being controversial, Smith added in his interview with Grub Street that he also has a sign hanging on the bar’s mirror inside that reads, “The customer is always wrong.”
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