literal-minded

[ lit-er-uh l-mahyn-did ]

/ ˈlɪt ər əlˌmaɪn dɪd /

unimaginative; prosaic; matter-of-fact.

Origin of literal-minded

First recorded in 1865–70

It is home to Papa Pilgrim, a literal-minded, self-fashioned prophet; his wife, Country Rose; and their 15 dutiful children.

This Week’s Hot Reads, July 15, 2013 |Sarah Stodola, Jen Vafidis, Damaris Colhoun |July 15, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Charlie, also literal-minded and still after the foot, echoed Rachel, "You bet your life it is."

Erik Dorn |Ben Hecht
"You don't look like her daughter," remarked Betty, who was literal-minded to a fault.

A harum-scarum schoolgirl |Angela Brazil
His style was bombastic and diffuse, and like them, he was superficial and literal-minded.

History of the Jews, Vol. III (of 6) |Heinrich Graetz

She had meant the speech as a jeer, but literal-minded Lydia Sessions welcomed its suggestion.

The Power and the Glory |Grace MacGowan Cooke
"Never had any, ma'am," said Uncle Mo, literal-minded from constitutional good-faith.

When Ghost Meets Ghost |William Frend De Morgan