Thursday, April 17, 2008

Coined by Shakespeare


Shakespeare contributed more phrases to the English language than the Bible or any other work - and many more than any other individual. Here's a small collection of well-known quotations that are associated with Shakespeare, although not all of them were coined by him. I found it facinating that I frequently use most of these. I've not read Shakespeare; at the time of my schooling it was not manditory, and I never picked him up for pleasure. For the complete list go here.


A dish fit for the gods


A foregone conclusion


A sorry sight


All corners of the world


All that glitters is not gold


All's well that ends well


As dead as a doornail


As good luck would have it


As pure as the driven snow


At one fell swoop


Bag and baggage


Beast with two backs


But screw your courage to the sticking-place


But, for my own part, it was Greek to me


Come what come may


Discretion is the better part of valour


Eaten out of house and home


Exceedingly well read


Fair play


Fancy free


Foul play


Good riddance


Green eyed monster


Heart's content


High time


His beard was as white as snow


I have not slept one wink


In a pickle


In stitches


In the twinkling of an eye


Lie low


Like the Dickens


Love is blind


My salad days


Primrose path


Rhyme nor reason


Salad days


Screw your courage to the sticking place


Send him packing


Set your teeth on edge


Short shrift


Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em


Something is rotten in the state of Denmark


Star crossed lovers


Such stuff as dreams are made on


The course of true love never did run smooth


Too much of a good thing


Vanish into thin air


We have seen better days


Wear your heart on your sleeve


Wild goose chase


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bill Bryson just published a book on Shakespeare that is fascinating and absolutely worth an evening or two of your time.

Mrs. G. said...

I popped in to mention the same book Jen did. It's good.

david mcmahon said...

Great list. I did literature at university and I do a bit of writing in my spare time - so I really appreciated your effort here.

storyteller said...

Who knew??? Certainly not me … but this was a fun post. Thanks for sharing ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

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