Tag Archive for: shakespeare

Everyday Shakespeare: 20 Phrases We Still Use Today

We’re celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday with a list of 20 phrases invented by The Bard himself. He may have been born 453 years ago but his words still heavily influence our language today.

So without further ado, here are 20 Shakespearean phrases that you might not have known go all the way back to the 1500s:

Everyday Shakespeare phrases

1) “Knock knock! Who’s there?” – Macbeth

2) “Set my teeth on edge” – Henry IV

everyday-shakespeare-henry-iv

3) “Fair play” – The Tempest

everyday-shakespeare-tempest

4) “For goodness’ sake” – Henry VIII

5) “Break the ice” – The Taming of the Shrew

everyday-shakespeare-taming-of-the-shrew

6) “Dead as a doornail” – Henry VI

7) “Good riddance” – Troilus and Cressida

8) “Love is blind” – The Merchant of Venice

9) “Wild-goose chase” – Romeo and Juliet

everyday-shakespeare-romeo-and-juliet

10) “Jealousy is the green-eyed monster” – Othello

everyday-shakespeare-othello

11) “In a pickle” – The Tempest

12) “Laughing stock” – The Merry Wives of Windsor 

13) “Wear my heart upon my sleeve” – Othello

14) “The world’s my oyster” – Merry Wives of Windsor

15) “All that glitters (glisters) is not gold” – The Merchant of Venice

16) “All’s well that ends well” – All’s Well that Ends Well

17) “Be-all and end-all” – Macbeth

18) “A sorry sight” – Macbeth

19) “All of a sudden” – The Taming of the Shrew

20) “Heart of gold” – Henry V

 

Do you know any other everyday Shakespeare words or phrases? Tweet us @BoomEdLtd and let us know!

The Boomerang Team