William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. (taken from Wikipedia)
Learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare
He has had a lasting influence on the spoken English language. A lot of the sayings we throw into our daily language can be contributed to Mr. Shakespeare.
Here is a list of common expressions that we use in everyday life, that were first written by Mr. Shakespeare.
The ones I have heard of and used often are in bold. You may have a different list, but I'm sure you have used many that are listed below.
A countenance more in sorrow than in angerA Daniel come to judgmentA dish fit for the godsA fool’s paradiseA foregone conclusionA horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!A ministering angel shall my sister beA plague on both your housesA rose by any other name would smell as sweetA sea changeA sorry sightA tower of strengthAge cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite varietyAlas, poor Yorick! I knew him, HoratioAll corners of the worldAll one to meAll that glitters is not gold / All that glisters is not goldAll the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely playersAll’s well that ends wellAn eye-soreAn ill-favoured thing sir, but mine ownAnd shining morning face, creeping like a snail unwillingly to schoolAnd thereby hangs a taleAs cold as any stoneAs dead as a doornailAs flies to wanton boys are we to the godsAs good luck would have itAs merry as the day is longAs white as driven snowAt one fell swoopAy, there’s the rubBag and baggageBated breathBeast with two backsBeware the ides of MarchBlow, winds, and crack your cheeksBreathe one’s lastBrevity is the soul of witBudge an inchCold comfortCome full circleCome the three corners of the world in armsCome what mayComparisons are odorousConscience does make cowards of us allCowards die many times before their deathsCrack of doomCry havoc and let slip the dogs of warDash to piecesDead as a doornailDeath by inchesDiscretion is the better part of valourDish fit for the godsDog will have its dayDouble, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubbleEaten me out of house and homeElbow roomEt tu, BruteEven at the turning of the tideEvery inch a kingExceedingly well readEye of newt and toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dogFair playFancy freeFatal visionFie, foh, and fum, I smell the blood of a British manFight fire with fireFor ever and a dayFoul playFrailty, thy name is womanFriends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your earsFull of sound and furyGet thee to a nunneryGive the devil his dueGood men and trueGood night, ladiesGood riddanceGreen eyed monsterHark, hark! the lark at heaven’s gate singsHe will give the Devil his dueHeart’s contentHigh timeHis beard was as white as snowHoist by your own petardHold a candle toHot-bloodedHousehold wordsHow sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless childI bear a charmed lifeI have not slept one winkI see you stand like greyhounds in the slipsI will wear my heart upon my sleeveIf music be the food of love, play onIn a pickleIn my heart of heartsIn my mind’s eyeIn stitchesIn the twinkling of an eyeInto thin airIs this a dagger which I see before me?It beggar’d all descriptionIt is meat and drink to meIt smells to heavenIt was Greek to meIt’s a wise father that knows his own childKill … with kindnessKnock, knock! Who’s there?Laughing-stockLay it on with a trowelLean and hungry lookLet slip the dogs of warLie lowLike the DickensLord, what fools these mortals be!Love is blindMake your hair stand on endMen’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in waterMilk of human kindnessMisery acquaints a man with strange bedfellowsMore fool youMore honoured in the breach than in the observanceMore in sorrow than in angerMore sinned against than sinningMuch Ado about NothingMum’s the wordMurder most foulMy own flesh and bloodMy salad daysNeither a borrower nor a lender beNight owlNo more cakes and ale?Not a mouse stirringNow is the winter of our discontentO Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou RomeoO, Brave new worldOff with his headOh, that way madness liesOnce more unto the breach, dear friends, once moreOne fell swoopOne that loved not wisely, but too wellOut of the jaws of deathOut, damned spot!Parting is such sweet sorrowPlay fast and loosePomp and CircumstancePound of fleshPrimrose pathRhyme nor reasonSans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everythingScrew your courage to the sticking placeSend him packingSet your teeth on edgeShall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Sharper than a serpent’s toothShort and the long of ItShort shriftShuffle off this mortal coilSmooth runs the water where the brook is deepSome are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘emSomething in the windSomething is rotten in the state of DenmarkSorry sightSpotless reputationStar crossed loversStiffen the sinewsStony heartedStood on ceremoniesStrange bedfellowsSuch stuff as dreams are made onSweets to the sweetThe be-all and the end-allThe better part of valour is discretionThe course of true love never did run smoothThe crack of doomThe devil can cite Scripture for his purposeThe Devil incarnateThe first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyersThe game is afootThe game is upThe lady doth protest too much, methinksThe naked truthThe play’s the thingThe quality of mercy is not strainedThe Queen’s EnglishThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortuneThe smallest worm will turn, being trodden onThe working day worldThe world’s mine oysterThere is a tide in the affairs of menThere’s method in my madnessThereby hangs a taleThis is the short and the long of itThis is very midsummer madnessThis precious stone set in the silver sea, this sceptered isleThis was the noblest Roman of them allThough this be madness, yet there is method in itThrow cold water on itThus far into the bowels of the landTis neither here nor thereTo be or not to be, that is the questionTo gild refined gold, to paint the lilyTo make a virtue of necessityTo sleep: perchance to dreamTo thine own self be trueToo much of a good thingTruth will outUnder the greenwood treeUneasy lies the head that wears a crownUnkindest cut of allUp in armsVanish into thin airWe are such stuff as dreams are made onWe few, we happy few, we band of brothersWe have seen better daysWear my heart on my sleeveWhat a piece of work is a manWhat the dickensWhat’s done is doneWhat’s in a name?What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweetWhen sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalionsWhere the bee sucks, there suck IWhile you live, tell truth and shame the Devil!Who wooed in haste, and means to wed at leisureWild goose chaseWoe is me
2 comments:
Hi Janie! Wow, I'm impressed! He was a smart dude! I'm also impressed that you typed all of these sayings! Thanks for popping in and I hope you're doing well.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
I thought the jury was still out on the true and actual identity of William Shakespeare. Pretty interesting list. Are you getting all Elizabethan on us these days?
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