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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.

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