Sayings from Shakespeare – The Best Words & Phrases

A Language in Flux: Shakespeare's Playground

During Shakespeare's time, the English language was in a state of vibrant evolution, lacking standardized spelling and grammar. This fluidity provided a fertile ground for experimentation, and Shakespeare seized the opportunity to mold and shape the language with his creative expression. His works became a mirror reflecting the linguistic landscape of his era, capturing and solidifying numerous words and phrases that continue to enrich our communication.

Shakespeare's Wordsmithing: A Tapestry of Themes

Let's delve into some of the most enduring words and phrases coined by Shakespeare, categorized by theme to illuminate the breadth and depth of his linguistic contributions:

Life and Nature

Alligator: A large, carnivorous reptile. (Romeo and Juliet, Act 5 Scene 1)

Eyeball: The round part of the eye; organ for vision. (Henry VI Part 1, Act 4 Scene 7)

Puppy dog: A young, domestic dog. (King John, Act 2 Scene 1)

Emotion and Behavior

Jaded: Worn out; bored or past feeling. (Henry VI Part 2, Act 4 Scene 1)

Lonely: Feeling sad due to lack of companionship. (Coriolanus, Act 4 Scene 1)

Obscene: Repulsive or disgusting; offensive to one's morality. (Love's Labour's Lost, Act 1 Scene 1)

Rant: To speak at length in inflated or extravagant language. (Hamlet, Act 5 Scene 1)

Worthless: Having no value or merit; contemptible. (The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 4 Scene 2)

Daily Life

Bedroom: A room for sleeping, furnished with a bed. (The History of King Lear)

Downstairs: On a lower floor; down the steps. (Henry IV Part 2, Act 2 Scene 4)

Gossip: To talk casually, usually about others. (The Comedy of Errors, Act 5 Scene 1)

Undress: To remove clothes or other covering. (The Taming of the Shrew, Induction Scene 2)

Character Traits

Critic: One who judges merit or expresses a reasoned opinion. (Love's Labour's Lost, Act 3 Scene 1)

Fashionable: Stylish; characteristic of a particular period. (Troilus and Cressida, Act 3 Scene 3)

Manager: One who controls or administers; person in charge. (Love's Labour's Lost, Act 1 Scene 2)

Nervy: Sinewy or strong; bold; easily agitated. (Coriolanus, Act 2 Scene 1)

Expressions and Concepts

Inaudible: Not heard; unable to be heard. (The Lover's Complaint)

Questioning: The act of inquiring or interrogating. (As You Like It, Act 5 Scene 4)

Skim milk: Milk with its cream removed. (Henry IV Part 1, Act 2 Scene 3)

Traditional: Conventional; long-established, bound by tradition. (Richard III, Act 3 Scene 1)

Varied: Incorporating different types or kinds; diverse. (Titus Andronicus, Act 3 Scene 1)

Xantippe: Shrewish wife of Socrates; figuratively, a bad-tempered woman. (The Taming of the Shrew, Act 1 Scene 2)

Yelping: Uttering sharp, high-pitched cries. (Henry VI Part 1, Act 4 Scene 2)

Zany: Clown's assistant; performer who mimics another's antics. (Love's Labour's Lost, Act 5 Scene 2)

Shakespeare's Introduced Words Still in Use

Many of Shakespeare's introduced terms have seamlessly integrated into our daily vocabulary. Here are some words that Shakespeare introduced to the English language:

Accommodation: Othello

Amazement: The Tempest

Assassination: Macbeth

Baseless: The Tempest

Bloody: Macbeth

Castigate: Measure for Measure

Changeful: The Rape of Lucrece

Clangor: The Rape of Lucrece

Countless: Titus Andronicus

Courtship: Much Ado About Nothing

Dexterously: Hamlet

Dishearten: Henry V

Dwindle: Macbeth

Eventful: As You Like It

Exposure: Troilus and Cressida

Fitful: Macbeth

Frugal: The Merry Wives of Windsor

Generous: The Merchant of Venice

Gloomy: Henry VI Part 1

Impartial: Henry VI Part 2

Indistinguishable: As You Like It

Invulnerable: Hamlet

Lapse: Venus and Adonis

Laughable: The Tempest

Lonely: Coriolanus

Majestic: Julius Caesar

Monumental: The Rape of Lucrece

Obscene: Love's Labour's Lost

Premeditated: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Radiance: All's Well That Ends Well

Sanctimonious: Measure for Measure

Seamy: Othello

Sportive: King John

Submerge: Antony and Cleopatra

Suspicious: Richard III

Phrases Popularized by Shakespeare

Shakespeare's knack for memorable phrases has left an indelible mark on the English language. Here are some iconic phrases attributed to him:

"All the world's a stage": As You Like It

"Brave new world": The Tempest

"Good riddance": Troilus and Cressida

"In a pickle": The Tempest

"It's Greek to me": Julius Caesar

"Knock knock! Who's there?": While Shakespeare's usage of a similar phrase in Macbeth is well-known, this call-and-response pattern has a much longer history, predating his plays.

"One fell swoop": Macbeth

"For goodness' sake": Henry VIII

"Catch a cold": Cymbeline

"Break the ice": The Taming of the Shrew

"Cruel to be kind": Hamlet

"Love is blind": The Merchant of Venice

"A heart of gold": Henry V

"All of a sudden": The Taming of the Shrew

"Neither here nor there": Othello

"Green-eyed monster": Othello

"Method to his madness": Hamlet

"Wear my heart upon my sleeve": Othello

Shakespeare's Enduring Legacy: A Master of Words and Phrases

Sayings from Shakespeare have left an undeniable impact on the English language. His inventive spirit and willingness to push the boundaries of language, often bending the rules to suit his artistic vision, have left an enduring mark on our communication.

While some of the words and phrases he used might have existed in spoken language or regional dialects before his time, Shakespeare's plays and poems were often the first recorded instances of these terms in written form. His innovative use of language, along with his ability to capture the nuances of human emotion and experience, cemented his place as a linguistic trailblazer.

As we continue to use sayings from Shakespeare, we are reminded of his enduring legacy as one of the greatest writers and linguistic innovators in history. His Shakespearean language continues to shape and enrich our communication, a timeless testament to his genius.