The Like Button

Let's go back to school this morning for a refresher course in the many meanings of the word "LIKE!" We see it a lot these days on Facebook or the other social networks. It's used so much that we may have forgotten the real meaning of the word. Generally as a verb, like refers to a fondness for something or someone. Example: I like traveling.

Like can be used to express a feeling of attraction between two people, weaker than love and distinct from it in important ways. Example: Marc likes Denise. Denise likes Marc.

Like can be used as an adverb meaning "nearly" or to indicate that the phrase in which it appears is to be taken metaphorically or as a hyperbole. Example: I like to died of embarrassment!

It is also sometimes used to introduce facial expressions, hand gestures, body movement, as well as sounds and noises. Example: I was like [speaker rolls eyes].

Like can be used to indicate an approximation or exaggeration, or that the following words may not be quite right, but are close enough. Example: I have like no money.

Slang uses of like were made famous through the song "Valley Girl" by Frank Zappa, released in 1982, and the film of the same name, released in the following year. The stereotyped "valley girl" language is an exaggeration of the variants of California English spoken by younger generations. Example: I, like, don't know what to do.

Remember the beatnik character Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) in the popular Dobie Gillis TV series of 1959-1963? He used to say, "Like crazy, man!"

Scooby Doo was on every afternoon when the girls were growing up! Shaggy would say, "Like, let's get out of here here, Scoob!

So I want to let you know I really LIKE when you drop by for a visit...and I really LOVE when you leave a comment!