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450 years since he was born and his greatness still lives on. That is William Shakespeare for you. One of the most feted, quoted and read literary icon of all times, his poetry, prose, plays and phrases are still read, loved and widely used, and for the better part, continue to inspire generations of arts, films, books, music and more to this day. Yes, we owe a lot to this man.
Besides, the echelons of British culture, even those who don't know or read Shakespeare, use some of his coined words and phrases in their daily lives, knowingly or unknowingly. Yes, anyone who speaks English knows that there is no escaping the bard.
It is often not clear whether the word or phrase was already in existence in Shakespeare's lifetime or if he invented it. Regardless, his much loved words and phrases continue to be quoted and used relentlessly by those who speak English and how. We have compiled a list of such oft-used phrases to help you understand how inspired you are by the Bard of Avon,
- "For goodness sake" - Henry VIII
- "Neither here nor 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
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
