That is a literal use of the expression.

这是一种书面表达。

youdao

youdao

Medieval theologians will talk about this: they'll use the term literal, they'll use the term allegorical, they'll use the term anagogical, and they'll mean by that three different meanings.

中世纪神学家会这么说：，他们用字面这个词，寓言这个词，神秘这个词，他们的意思是三种不同的意思。

youdao

People often use language without thinking about the literal meaning of what they are saying and without considering what the person on the receiving end is thinking.

BBC: Is it acceptable to call someone 'babe'?