like as quotative

In standard writing, report speech with said, asked, replied, or another verb of speaking. Many people say was like where standard English uses said. For example, She was like, “Close the gate.” This use is a feature of casual conversation. It is very common among friends and in casual messages, such as texts, and in that setting it is natural. It does a different job from said: it often conveys a rough version of the words, a tone, or a reaction rather than an exact quotation. That looseness suits relaxed talk, but it fails anywhere precision matters, because the reader cannot tell whether the words were spoken, thought, or merely implied. In ordinary speech outside close company, such as a meeting, an interview, or a talk, it is uncommon, and many people judge the speaker who uses it there.