William Shakespeare didn’t just write blockbuster plays, he also shaped the English language forever. Hundreds of everyday expressions we use today first appeared in his works. You’ve probably quoted the Bard without even knowing it! Here are some of the most popular phrases he invented or popularised, complete with their origins and modern meanings.
The Green-Eyed Monster
Jealousy is often called “the green-eyed monster.” Shakespeare coined this vivid metaphor in Othello. Iago warns Othello:
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”
Good Riddance
When we’re glad to see the back of someone or something, we say “good riddance.” The expression first appears in The Merchant of Venice when Portia quietly wishes the Prince of Morocco a “gentle riddance,” later softened to the phrase we know today.
For Goodness’ Sake
This mild exclamation of frustration or surprise comes straight from Henry VIII. Cardinal Wolsey pleads:
“For goodness sake, consider what you do…”
Break the Ice
Want to ease tension and start a conversation? You “break the ice.” In The Taming of the Shrew, Tranio suggests Petruchio should “break the ice” with the fiery Katherine so others can follow more easily.
The Be-All and End-All
We use this when something seems like the ultimate solution or most important thing. Macbeth ponders murdering King Duncan and wonders if the assassination
“Might be the be-all and the end-all…”
Wild-Goose Chase
A pointless or chaotic pursuit? That’s a “wild-goose chase,” first seen in Romeo and Juliet when Mercutio teases Romeo about their wits running “the wild-goose chase.”
Laughing Stock
Someone ridiculed by everyone is a “laughing stock.” In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sir Hugh Evans begs, “Pray you let us not be laughing-stocks to other men’s humours.”
As Good Luck Would Have It
Things sometimes work out simply “as good luck would have it.” Falstaff uses the phrase in The Merry Wives of Windsor when an unexpected visitor saves him from trouble.
Wear My Heart Upon My Sleeve
To show your emotions openly is to “wear your heart upon your sleeve.” The villainous Iago in Othello declares he will never do this:
“But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at…”
Even More Shakespeare in Everyday English
Shakespeare gave us hundreds more. A quick-fire list of other famous ones includes:
- faint-hearted
- fancy-free
- forever and a day
- foregone conclusion
- full circle
- give the devil his due
- heart of gold
- in my mind’s eye
- in my heart of hearts
- one fell swoop
- refuse to budge an inch
- dead as a doornail
- eaten me out of house and home
- love is blind
Shakespeare Phrase Challenge
For fun, here’s a short paragraph packed with 16 Shakespearean expressions (it’s deliberately over-the-top!):
“I wear my heart upon my sleeve, but when they say love is blind, this can’t be true — love is not the be-all and end-all. For goodness’ sake, I hear you cry! In one fell swoop I’ve made a laughing stock of myself. I only tried to break the ice. Feeling faint-hearted yet fancy-free, I carried on. As good luck would have it, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion. Give the devil his due,in my heart of hearts and in my mind’s eye, I refuse to budge an inch. Chasing perfection was always a wild-goose chase!”
Think you can beat 16? Give it a try!
Walk in Shakespeare’s Footsteps in London
Want to explore the real London Shakespeare knew? Join our expert-led Shakespeare London Walking Tour with Brit Icon Tours. You’ll visit the areas he frequented, stand where the Globe Theatre once stood, hear live readings of his works, and discover the gritty, vibrant 16th- and 17th-century city that inspired him. Book your Shakespeare London Walking Tour here (https://briticontours.com/shakespeare-london-walk/) and quote the Bard in the very streets he walked!
