Category Archives: Wordplay

An exploration of words and language

Shakespearean phrases frequently used in today’s discourse (2)

Here’s are 30 more of the Bard’s memorable sayings still in use today.

In the twinkling of an eye
It was Greek to me
Love is blind
Make your hair stand on end
Milk of human kindness
Much Ado about Nothing
Mum’s the word
Out of the jaws of death
Pound of flesh
Rhyme nor reason
Screw your courage to the sticking place
Short shrift
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em
Star crossed lovers
Such stuff as dreams are made on
The Devil incarnate
The game is up
The Queen’s English
There’s method in my madness
This is the short and the long of it
To be or not to be, that is the question
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub
Too much of a good thing
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown
Vanish into thin air
Wear your heart on your sleeve
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
Wild goose chase
Woe is me

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Shakespearean phrases frequently used in today’s discourse (1)

There are many, many phrases and quotes that William Shakespeare penned for his plays centuries ago that are still frequently used today. In the first of two postings, here’s a selected list of 30 of the most common of the Bard’s memorable – and timeless – sayings.

A dish fit for the gods
A fool’s paradise
A foregone conclusion
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse
A plague on both your houses
A sorry sight
All corners of the world
All that glitters is not gold
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players
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
Come what come may
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war
Eaten out of house and home
Fight fire with fire
For ever and a day
Frailty, thy name is woman
Good riddance
Green eyed monster
He will give the Devil his due
Heart’s content
His beard was as white as snow
Hoist by your own petard
I have not slept one wink
If music be the food of love, play on
In a pickle
In my mind’s eye

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.