Posted on 09/17/2011 8:57:46 PM PDT by Mountain Bike Vomit Carnage
As a self-proclaimed loser word nerd, my absolute favorite class in college was Shakespeare. Regardless if the dude even existed or not, I feel intimidated writing about him using my own pathetically limited vocabulary, as I am that enthralled and marveled by his English language skillz (sorry, Will).
That's why I was so stoked to see the newest Tumblr hit sweeping the Internet world: "Things We Say Today Which We Owe to Shakespeare." There are so many things! I remember reading through his plays late at night for class, coming across phrases and sayings and having the light bulb in my head go off: So that's where that came from.
A 20-year-old from London named Becky scribbled down a bunch of these sayings in her notebook and posted it to Tumblr. And people love it! Who'da thunk it ... I mean, o, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is!
I guess this is proof that Shakespeare and technology actually can get along. Here are just eight of the best from the wonderment that is Becky's list:
Love is blind: "But love is blind, and lovers cannot see/The petty follies that themselves commit." -- Jessica, The Merchant of Venice (this phrase appears in Two Gentlemen of Verona and Henry V)
Knock knock! Who's there?: "Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' th' name of Beelzebub? Here's a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty. Come in time, have napkins enough about you, here you'll sweat for 't." -- Drunk or hungover porter, Macbeth
Green-eyed monster: "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!/It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on." -- Iago, Othello
The world is my oyster: "Why then the world's mine oyster/Which I with sword will open." -- Pistol, The Merry Wives of Windsor
Wild goose chase: "Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am done; for thou hast more of the wild goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five." -- Mercutio, Romeo & Juliet
In a pickle: "And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em? How camest thou in this pickle?" -- Alonso, The Tempest
Break the ice: "And if you break the ice and do this feat/Achieve the elder, set the younger free/For our access, whose hap shall be to have her/Will not so graceless be to be ingrate." -- Tranio, The Taming of the Shrew
Hair stand on end: "Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part/And each particular hair to stand on end/Like quills upon the fearful porpentine." -- Ghost, Hamlet
Did you know we had Shakespeare to thank for these phrases? I didn't!
“Fo shizzle mah nizzle” (I momentarily forget what play that was in.)
He didn’t come up with that “Wait for it!” bull**** did he? I’d like to punch that guy in the mouth. Of course, I’d say, “Wait for it!” before I sucker punched him in the chops.
For later
For later
Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
William Shakespeare
Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.
William Shakespeare
The staggering dumbness of that "sentence" hurts my head...
HAMLET
Lady, shall I lie in your lap?
OPHELIA
No, my lord.
HAMLET
I mean, my head upon your lap?
OPHELIA
Ay, my lord.
HAMLET
Do you think I meant country matters?
OPHELIA
I think nothing, my lord.
HAMLET
That’s a fair thought to lie between maids’ legs.
OPHELIA
What is, my lord?
HAMLET
Nothing.
For my part, it was Greek to me. William Shakespeare
Having nothing, nothing can he lose. William Shakespeare
If I'm not mistaken, that was Henry XVII, part 4. Although it may have been Henry XVI, part 23. (Sorry, just too many Henry's to keep track of.)
It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions. William Shakespeare
A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool. -W. Shakespeare
A noted surfer once told me that “Wipe out” was from Shakespeare.
Bill Shakespere
That wasn’t Shakespeare, but his little known office assistant Sir Mix-A-Lot.
Act two, scene three, from The Merchant of Venice...Beach.
shakespeare sayings
“(Do the) Kool Step” - Shakespeare (Robbie).
Don’t know about “wipe out,” but “bite the dust” is Shakespeare.
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