Although, Shakespeare did not write fictional books, he wrote ingenious intriguing plays that have been turned into academic and beautifully designed script books, that readers still enjoy in the twenty first century. In these plays (and thus script books) , Shakespeare told stories of side splitting comedy, passionate romance and tear jerking travesties. Many of which saw Shakespeare coin original phrases and expressions, which many of us still use today. Below, I’ve complied some of the notable and most hilarious phrases, created by the bard himself.
1) ‘Something wicked this way’ – Macbeth. Translation: A person so evil, he or she is not human.
2) ‘In my heart of hearts’ – Hamlet. Translation: In my most inner, true thoughts and feelings.
3) ‘Neither rhyme nor reason’ – The Comedy of Errors’. Translation: No logic or common sense.
4) ‘Own flesh and blood’ – Hamlet. Translation: Part of your family.
5) ‘I have not slept one wink’ – Cymbeline. Translation: I’ve haven’t sleep at all.
6) ‘Jealously is the green eyed monster’ – Othello. Translation: Envy is so strong it makes one sick.
7) ‘All that glitter isn’t gold’ – The Merchants of Venice. Translation: Things are not as good as they appear to be.
8) ‘The be-all and end-all’ – Macbeth. Translation: Of the upmost importance, the ultimate aim.
9) ‘Wear my heart upon my sleeve’ – Othello. Translation: To expose my feelings, be vulnerable.
10) ‘What’s done is done’ – Macbeth. Translation: I can’t change what’s happened in the past.
11) ‘Star crosses lovers’ – Romeo and Juliet. Translation: Lovers doomed by outside forces.
12) ‘Break the ice’ – Taming of the Shrew. Translation: To break the awkward initial tension.
13) ‘Wild Goose Chase’ – Romeo and Juliet. Translation: A hopeless search for something unattainable.
14) ‘As good luck would have it’ – The Merry Wives of Windsor. Translation: Something that happened due to good or bad luck.
15) ‘Refuse to budge an inch’ – Measure got Measure/ Taming of the Shrew. Translation: Someone who refuses to move even a little bit.
16) ‘Devil incarnate’ – Titus Andronicus/ Henry V. Translation: Someone so evil they are seen as the embodiment of the devil.
17) ‘Faint hearted’ – Henry VI Part 1. Translation: Someone who is fearful.
18) ‘Full Circle’ – King Lear. Translation: When something comes full circle, a cycle is completed and that something has come back to the beginning.
19) ‘Good riddance’ – Troilus and Cressida. Translation: The expression of relief to be free of something or someone unwanted.
20) ‘Heart of gold’ – Henry V. Translation: Someone who has a very kind, good and generous nature.
21) ‘Kill with kindness’ – Taming of the Shrew. Translation: To cause discomfort or distress to someone by acting extremely kind or helpful instead of returning an insult.
22) ‘In my mind’s eyes’ – Hamlet. Translation: If you can see/imagine something and have a clear picture of it, in your mind.
23) ‘One fell swoop’ – Macbeth. Translation: To do something in a sudden or single swift action.
24) ‘Play fast and loose’ – King John. Translation: When someone ignores or disregards social conventions and proper behaviour and you disapprove of their immoral, irresponsible or deceitful behaviour.
25) ‘Method in his madness’ – Hamlet. Translation: When someone’s doing something odd or strange but there’s a purpose or plan behind it.
25) ‘Naked truth’ – Love Labour’s Lost. Translation: The honest full truth with no embellishment or concealment, concerning the truth.
26) ‘To be or not to be’ – Hamlet. Translation: In Hamlet, this means to live or not to live, it can refer to a difficult decision why someone is choosing between two equal/opposite options. Or if something is preferable, if it weren’t for something else.
27) ‘Vanish into thin air’ – Othello. Translation: To completely disappear in a mysterious way.
28) ‘Brave new world’ – The Tempest. Translation: A new, hopeful period.
29) ‘The world is my oyster’ – The Merry Wives of Windsor. Translation: I can achieve whatever I want to in life.
30) ‘Knock knock, who’s there’ – Macbeth. Translation: This refers to the Porter scene in Macbeth where a porter knocks on their door and makes a comedic reference to a ‘hell gate’, the knock scares Lord and Lady Macbeth. Knock Knock is also the beginning of the famous joke, that has since become commonplace in society.
31) ‘To thine own self be true’ – Hamlet. Translation: To be true to yourself.
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