23 Apr 1564 A.D. William
Shakespeare Born on St. George’s Day. 450th Anniversary in 2014.
Denham, Jess. “William
Shakespeare’s 450th birthday: 50 everyday phrase that came from the
Bard.” The Independent. 23 Apr 2014. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/william-shakespeares-450th-birthday-50-everyday-phrases-that-came-from-the-bard-9275254.html
. Accessed 23 Apr 2014.
William Shakespeare's 450th birthday: 50 everyday phrases that came from
the Bard
1 / 1
William Shakespeare's influence on English culture is still strongly felt
today, from his plays on stage to words we use everyday
Getty Images
From 'in a pickle' to 'good riddance' the Bard's legacy is still very much
present
Happy 450th
birthday William Shakespeare. Your plays are still the pinnacle, your poetry
among the finest and many phrases you coined are still in wide usage.
Sixth formers who
loathe the name Hamlet, apologies, but there is just no escaping the Bard. His
influence on the English language has stood the test of time thus far, with
little sign of relenting.
Echelons of
British culture aside, even those who "don't do Shakespeare" speak
his words in their daily lives. Most of us will have quoted the playwright
thousands of times without knowing it.
Ever been "in
a pickle" or had "too much of a good thing"? Perhaps friends
have "eaten (you) out of house and home" or had you "in
stitches" over a joke.
These are just a
handful of well-used sayings that come courtesy of Shakespeare (see below for
more).
Shakespearean
sayings you use without knowing it
1 of 8
It is often not
clear whether a word or phrase was already in existence in Shakespeare's
lifetime or if he invented it. Regardless, his plays often provide us with the
earliest use of many.
More words and phrases coined by the Bard
- "For
goodness sake" - Henry VIII
- "Neither
here not there" - Othello
- "Mum's the
word" - Henry VI, Part II
- "Eaten out
of house and home" - Henry IV, Part II
- "Rant"
- Hamlet
- "Knock
knock! Who's there?" - Macbeth
- "All's well
that ends well" - All's Well That Ends Well
- "With bated
breath" - The Merchant of Venice
- "A wild
goose chase" - Romeo and Juliet
-
"Assassination" - Macbeth
- "Too much
of a good thing" - As You Like It
- "A heart of
gold" - Henry V
- "Such stuff
as dreams are made on" - The Tempest
- "Fashionable"
- Troilus and Cressida
- "What the dickens" - The Merry Wives of
Windsor
-
"Puking" - As You Like It
- "Lie
low" - Much Ado About Nothing
- "Dead as a doornail" - Henry VI, Part II
"Not slept one wink" - Cymbeline
- "Foregone
conclusion" - Othello
- "The
world's mine oyster" - The Merry Wives of Windsor
-
"Obscene" - Love's Labour's Lost
-
"Bedazzled" - The Taming of the Shrew
- "In
stitches" - Twelfth Night
-
"Addiction" - Othello
- "Naked truth" - Love's Labour's Lost
-
"Faint-hearted" - Henry VI, Part I
- "Send him packing" - Henry IV
- "Vanish
into thin air" - Othello
-
"Swagger" - Henry V
- "Own flesh
and blood" - Hamlet
- "Truth will
out" - The Merchant of Venice
- "Zany"
- Love's Labour's Lost
- "Give the devil his due" - Henry IV, Part I
- "There's method in my madness" - Hamlet
- "Salad
days" - Antony and Cleopatra
- "Wear your
heart on your sleeve" - Othello
- "Spotless
reputation" - Richard II
- "Full
circle" - King Lear
- "There's
the rub" - Hamlet
- "All of a
sudden" - The Taming of the Shrew
- "Come what,
come may" - Macbeth
No comments:
Post a Comment