I used to react similarly when I saw someone misuse the phrase. The thing is though, it has become common for people to use "fatal mistake" in a figurative sense, meaning a serious or grave error, even when it doesn't involve actual death. This shift reflects how language evolves, with words or phrases taking on broader or less literal meanings in everyday speech. "fatal" now emphasises the gravity of the mistake, implying that it has severe or irreversible consequences, even if it's not literally life-threatening.Originally Posted by PussyBonpensiero
By the way, completely agree with the rest of your post!
