Shakespeare

[Bambino]

William Shakespeare was born and died in April. Here are a few phrases he penned that you probably use every day.

[Glory1]

Yes, @Bambino I've used most, if not all, of them at one time or another but didn't realise (or quite possibly had forgotten) they were all down to Shakespeare. Then I must admit it's been some years since I've read any of his work. Initially, like most of us it was part of the school curriculum. But I did like his tragedies and historical works which I read after graduating from high school as well. Couldn't get on with his comedies, though.

Thanks for sharing how much we owe to him, not only his well known classics but so many of our well-worn phrases the origin of which has/had been forgotten by many but are still used today.

[Cleoriff]

I had no idea he penned half of those phrases. Just shows me how little I do know

So that's the 'naked truth' and makes me a bit of a 'laughing stock'.

Never mind, I will wait with 'baited breath' to see if I 'vanish into thin air'

[jonsie]

I had the misfortune to have to study Shakespeare and also appear in school plays. I did a very good 'Bottom' apparently......

I could never ever take to Shakespeare and hated it with a passion, still do. I was born in Radcliffe....we just didn't do Shakespeare!!

[EmilieT]

@Bambino Thanks for sharing these, such an impressive list of phrases we owe to his writing!

I love reading his plays, it was brilliant to study in depth at University but I would probably feel very differently about them if I had been asked to get on stage as well @jonsie. The way classics like Shakespeare's plays are introduced to children can very easily define whether they'll hate or love them