Jun 25


Blame it on Shakespeare

by Terry 25 June 2007


These cliches were once fresh … in the 16th century.

  • green eyed monster
  • hot-blooded
  • more sinned against than sinning
  • strange bedfellows
  • wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
  • pitched battle
  • clothes make the man
  • method in his madness
  • to thine own self be true
  • towering passion

Read more words and phrases coined by The Bard.

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4 Comments

4 Responses to “Blame it on Shakespeare”

  1. Ahistoricality on June 25th, 2007 10:45 pm

    I have that problem with both Shakespeare and the New Testament: having seen nearly every line taken out of context a dozen times a year, it’s hard to read this stuff and remember that it was fresh, new, original, and nobody new or cared if it was going to be around in four years, much less four hundred.  (Quote)

  2. Jeff Hess on June 26th, 2007 2:50 am

    Shalom Terry,

    Isaac Asimov once speculated that the language of Shakespeare was so beautiful that it froze English. While very few would consider reading the English of even a century earlier than the bard, we are able to read Shakespeare’s writings more than 400 years later.

    And my favorite Shakespearian turn of phrase comes from Othello, Act I, scene 1:

    BRABANTIO: What profane wretch art thou?

    IAGO: I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

    What a wonderful day it was when I first got Shakespeare.

    B’shalom,

    Jeff  (Quote)

  3. MY COMMENTS… on June 26th, 2007 2:53 am
  4. Terry on June 28th, 2007 12:58 pm

    Sorry, Jeff! I didn’t mean to overlook your comment. I was very lucky – my first exposure to Shakespeare was hearing it read aloud while I followed along. It was a great way to learn.  (Quote)

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