shakespeare an idioms

8/8/2019 Shakespeare An Idioms

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Shakespearean idiomsShakespearean idioms

Iva MatiIva Mati

March 2007March 2007


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Phrases not coined by ShakespearePhrases not coined by Shakespeare

A fool's paradiseA fool's paradisefirst recorded in thefirst recorded in the Paston LettersPaston Letters, 1462, 1462

Shakespeare later used it inShakespeare later used it in Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet.. Nurse:Nurse:

but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her intobut first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her intoa fool's paradisea fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very, as they say, it were a verygrossgross

kind of behavior, as they say: for thekind of behavior, as they say: for thegentlewomangentlewomanis youngis young


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All that glitters is not goldAll that glitters is not gold

The 12th century French thelogian Alain de Lille wrote "DoThe 12th century French thelogian Alain de Lille wrote "Donot hold everything gold that shines like gold".not hold everything gold that shines like gold".

Shakespeare is the bestlShakespeare is the bestl--known user of the idea. Theknown user of the idea. Theoriginal Shakespeare editions oforiginal Shakespeare editions of The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice,,1596, have the line as '1596, have the line as 'all that glisters is not goldall that glisters is not gold'.'.'Glister' is now usually replaced by the more commonly'Glister' is now usually replaced by the more commonly

used 'glitter', which has the same meaningused 'glitter', which has the same meaning


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MOROCCO:MOROCCO:O hell! what have weO hell! what have wehere?here?

A carrion Death, withinA carrion Death, withinwhose empty eyewhose empty eyeThere is a written scroll!There is a written scroll!I'll read the writing.I'll read the writing.

All that glitters is notAll that glitters is not

gold;gold;Often have you heardOften have you heardthat told:that told:


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As dead as a doornailAs dead as a doornail

This is oldThis is old -- at least 14that least 14thcentury. There's acentury. There's a

reference to it in print inreference to it in print in1350:1350:

"For but ich haue bote of mi"For but ich haue bote of mibale I am ded asbale I am ded as

dorenail."dorenail." Shakespeare used it inShakespeare used it in

King Henry VIKing Henry VI, 1590, 1590


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Shakespeare may have been the first toShakespeare may have been the first touse it in English, although a version of ituse it in English, although a version of it

appears in Rabelais'appears in Rabelais' Gargantua andGargantua andPantagruelPantagruel, circa 1532. This was, circa 1532. This wastranslated into English by Thomastranslated into English by ThomasUrquhart and published posthumouslyUrquhart and published posthumously

around 1693around 1693


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Beast with two backsBeast with two backs

This modernThis modern--sounding phrase is in fact atsounding phrase is in fact atleast as early as Shakespeare. He used itleast as early as Shakespeare. He used itinin OthelloOthello, 1604:, 1604:

Iago:Iago:

"I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your"I am one, sir, that comes to tell you yourdaughter and the Moor are now makingdaughter and the Moor are now makingthe beast with two backs."the beast with two backs."


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But, for my own part, it wasBut, for my own part, it was

Greek to meGreek to me From Shakespeare'sFrom Shakespeare's JuliusJulius

CaesarCaesar, 1601:, 1601:

CASSIUS Did Cicero say anyCASSIUS Did Cicero say anything?thing?CASCA Ay, he spoke Greek.CASCA Ay, he spoke Greek.

CASSIUS To what effect?CASSIUS To what effect?CASCA Nay, an I tell you that,CASCA Nay, an I tell you that,Ill ne'er look you i' theIll ne'er look you i' theface again: but those thatface again: but those thatunderstood him smiled atunderstood him smiled atone another and shook theirone another and shook their

heads; but, for mine ownheads; but, for mine ownpart, it was Greek to mepart, it was Greek to me


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Other authors used a similar phraseOther authors used a similar phrasearound the same time, so it can't be saidaround the same time, so it can't be said

that Shakespeare coined it. There is also athat Shakespeare coined it. There is also amediaeval Latin phrase which translates asmediaeval Latin phrase which translates as''It is Greek; it cannot be read'It is Greek; it cannot be read', which is, which isearlier and could be said to be the originearlier and could be said to be the origin

of the term.of the term.


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Come what come mayCome what come may

From Shakespeare'sFrom Shakespeare's MacbethMacbeth. Usually used. Usually used

just as 'come what may'.just as 'come what may'.A version of this was known in France asA version of this was known in France as

early as 1375early as 1375

The Spanish "que sera sera"The Spanish "que sera sera" -- "what will be,"what will be,will be" is also old and predateswill be" is also old and predatesShakespeare's "come what come may".Shakespeare's "come what come may".


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High timeHigh time

From the Bible,From the Bible, Romans 13.11Romans 13.11 ((King JamesKing James

VersionVersion):):Shakespeare also used it in hisShakespeare also used it in his Comedy ofComedy of

ErrorsErrors

'H

igh times' comes from the same root as'H

igh times' comes from the same root as'high days and holidays', i.e. days of'high days and holidays', i.e. days ofreligious note and festivalsreligious note and festivals


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I have not slept one winkI have not slept one wink

The notion has been in the language sinceThe notion has been in the language since

the 14th century. Robert Manning ofthe 14th century. Robert Manning ofBrunne, in his workBrunne, in his work Handlyng synneHandlyng synne,,1303, records the phrase in Old English:1303, records the phrase in Old English:

"Ne mete ete, ne drank drynke, Ne slepte"Ne mete ete, ne drank drynke, Ne slepteonely aonely a--lepy wynke."lepy wynke."


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In a pickleIn a pickle

This alludes to the picklingThis alludes to the picklingliquid made from brinesliquid made from brinesand vinegar which is usedand vinegar which is usedto preserve foodto preserve food

There are a few referencesThere are a few referencestoto ill picklesill pickles andand thisthispicklepickle etc. in print in theetc. in print in thelate 16th century, butlate 16th century, butShakespeare appears toShakespeare appears tobe the first to usebe the first to use in ain apickle,pickle, inin The TempestThe Tempest,,1611:1611:


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Woe is meWoe is me

This occurs in the Bible,This occurs in the Bible,Job 10:15Job 10:15 ((KingKing

James VersionJames Version) in the) in theform 'woe unto me'.form 'woe unto me'.

Shakespeare also usedShakespeare also used

it init in HamletHamlet,,


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Phrases coined by ShakespearePhrases coined by Shakespeare

A sea changeA sea change

From Shakespeare'sFrom Shakespeare's The TempestThe Tempest, 1610:, 1610:

ARIEL [sings]:ARIEL [sings]:

Full fathom five thy father lies;Full fathom five thy father lies;Of his bones are coral made;Of his bones are coral made;Those are pearls that were his eyes:Those are pearls that were his eyes:Nothing of him that doth fadeNothing of him that doth fade

But doth suffer a seaBut doth suffer a sea--changechangeInto something rich and strange.Into something rich and strange.SeaSea--nymphs hourly ring his knellnymphs hourly ring his knell


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A sorry sightA sorry sightFrom Shakespeare'sFrom Shakespeare's MacbethMacbeth, 1605:, 1605:

MACBETH:MACBETH:

This is a sorry sight.This is a sorry sight.[Looking on his hands][Looking on his hands]


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As cold as any stoneAs cold as any stone

From Shakespeare's Henry V.:From Shakespeare's Henry V.:

I put my I put myhand into the bed and felt them, and they werehand into the bed and felt them, and they wereasascold as any stone; cold as any stone;

Shakespeare used various 'Shakespeare used various 'as cold asas cold as' similes,' similes,including 'including 'as cold as a snowballas cold as a snowball' and '' and 'as cold asas cold asif I had swallowed snowballsif I had swallowed snowballs'.'.


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Eaten out of houseEaten out of houseand homeand home

FromFrom Henry IV Part IIHenry IV Part II,,

15971597

He hath eaten me outHe hath eaten me outof house and home;of house and home;he hath put all myhe hath put all mysubstance into thatsubstance into thatfat belly of hisfat belly of his


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Fair playFair play

The TempestThe Tempest

MIRANDA:MIRANDA:Yes, for a score ofYes, for a score ofkingdoms you shouldkingdoms you shouldwrangle,wrangle,

And I would call it,And I would call it,fair play.fair play.


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Green eyedGreen eyedmonstermonster

The Merchant ofThe Merchant ofVeniceVenice, 1600, 1600


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Love is blindLove is blind

From Shakespeare'sFrom Shakespeare's The Merchant Of VeniceThe Merchant Of Venice..


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My salad daysMy salad days From Shakespeare'sFrom Shakespeare's

Anthony and Cleopatra,Anthony and Cleopatra,1606:1606:

CLEOPATRA: My saladCLEOPATRA: My saladdays,days,When I was green inWhen I was green in

judgment: cold in blood,judgment: cold in blood,To say as I said then!To say as I said then!But, come, away;But, come, away;

Get me ink and paper:Get me ink and paper:He shall have every day aHe shall have every day aseveral greeting,several greeting,Or I'll unpeople Egypt.Or I'll unpeople Egypt.


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Short shriftShort shrift

Shakespeare was theShakespeare was thefirst to write it down,first to write it down,

inin Richard IIIRichard III, 1594., 1594.RATCLIFF:RATCLIFF:

Dispatch, my lord; theDispatch, my lord; theduke would be atduke would be at

dinner:dinner:Make a short shrift;Make a short shrift;he longs to see yourhe longs to see yourhead.head.


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Wild goose chaseWild goose chaseRomeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet, 1592, 1592

"Nay, if our wits run the Wild"Nay, if our wits run the Wild--Goose chase, I am done: ForGoose chase, I am done: Forthou hast more of the Wildthou hast more of the Wild--Goose in one of thy wits,Goose in one of thy wits,

then I am sure I have in my whole five."then I am sure I have in my whole five."


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