top of page

Shakespeare's Legacy

Everyday Phrases from the Bard You've Probably Been Quoting!

Painting of William Shakespeare to illustrate common expressions from his plays, such as 'love is blind' and 'foregone conclusion

Shakespeare is known for creating or popularizing many phrases that are still in use today. 


Here are 25 some examples: 


1. "All that glitters is not gold" - The Merchant of Venice 

2. "Break the ice" - The Taming of the Shrew 

3. "Brevity is the soul of wit" - Hamlet 

4. "Catch a cold" - Cymbeline 

5. "Clothes make the man" - Hamlet 

6. "Devil incarnate" - Titus Andronicus 

7. "Eaten out of house and home" - Henry IV

8. "Elbow room" - King John 

9. "Fair play" - The Tempest 

10. "Faint hearted" - Henry VI, P

11. "For goodness' sake" - Henry VIII 

12. "Foregone conclusion" - Othello 

13. "Heart of gold" - Henry V 

14. "In my heart of hearts" - Hamlet 

15. "In my mind's eye" - Hamlet 

16. "It's Greek to me" - Julius Caesar 

17. "Kill with kindness" - The Taming of the Shrew 

18. "Laughing stock" - The Merry Wives of Windsor 

19. "Love is blind" - The Merchant of Venice 

20. "Make your hair stand on end" - Hamlet 

21. "Milk of human kindness" - Macbeth 

22. "Mind's eye" - Hamlet 

23. "One fell swoop" - Macbeth 

24. "Play fast and loose" - King John 

25. "Wild-goose chase" - Romeo and Juliet 


These phrases demonstrate Shakespeare's profound influence on the English language, contributing to its richness and expressive power.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Stoneware Pedestal Bird Bath - Green

Stoneware Pedestal Bird Bath - Green

Ceramic 17:L x 17"W x22" H

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Leather Bound Classic

facts.png
FACTS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
Homes That Outsmarted the Tax Collector
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Homes That Outsmarted the Tax Collector

Why Most Orange Cats Are Boys
SCIENCE & NATURE

Why Most Orange Cats Are Boys

Cleopatra’s Breath Might Be in Your Lungs Right Now
SCIENCE & NATURE

Cleopatra’s Breath Might Be in Your Lungs Right Now

From Awkward Moment to Medical Marvel
HISTORY & INNOVATIONS

From Awkward Moment to Medical Marvel

Did Avocado Toast Really Ruin Millennials’ Housing Dreams?
FOOD & DRINK

Did Avocado Toast Really Ruin Millennials’ Housing Dreams?

Understanding Why Luxury Costs So Much
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Understanding Why Luxury Costs So Much

ADVERTISEMENT

popular.png
POPULAR NOW
Image of futuristic tech cube
SCIENCE & NATURE

The Spark That Launched San Francisco's Tech Scene

Photograph of people waiting outside of Warner's movie theater
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Why We Call It the Box Office

Painting of A Young Woman  at her Toilet with a Maid from the Metropolitan Museum of Art
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Why Do Men’s and Women’s Shirts Button Opposite Ways?

Photograph of brain scan
SCIENCE & NATURE

AI is Learning to Translate Brain Signals Into Language

Painting of Paul Revere by J.S. Copley
PEOPLE

Paul Revere Was a Dentist and Never Shouted That Famous Warning

Photo of Disneyland with Fireworks
CURIOUS FACTS

Disneyland's Secret Night Shift: Feral Cats on Patrol

ADVERTISEMENT

bottom of page