How many times have you heard the following phrase? NOBODY takes it literally.
“A rail union boss has called for Conservative ministers to be ‘taken out and shot’ after claiming the Government’s cuts are ‘killing people every week’. Steve Hedley, assistant general secretary of the RMT union, was scolded on air for the comments but continued to make sweeping allegations about Cabinet ministers. ‘I think all the Tories are an absolute disgrace, they should be taken out and shot to be quite frank with you,’ he told LBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty on Tuesday.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
But there is always the chance that some crazy might be called to action.
For example:
“Righteous protests can get “messy and controversial” and “contentious,” Pres. Obama warned on Sunday while addressing last week’s deadly violence against Dallas police.
Responding to a question at a press event on Sunday, Obama compared the protests to the Civil Rights and environmental movements, Abolition, and suffrage – and cautioned that just causes can get “messy” when they “speak to power””