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Shakespeare's impact on the English language!

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Did you know there are a lot phrases from Shakespeare, still used in English?

"Break the ice." - The Taming of the Shrew.

"... 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 (as Lucentio)

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What does "break the ice" mean?

"A few glasses of wine at a party can help break the ice."

"Wild goose chase". - Romeo and Juliet

"Nay, if they wits run the wild-goose chase, I have done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: was I with you there for the goose?" — Mercutio

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What is a "wild goose chase"?

"It turns out that my brother took my car keys. I had been on a wild goose chase this whole morning searching them in the entire house."

"It's Greek to me." - Julius Caesar

"Nay, an I tell you that, Ill ne'er look you i' the face again: but those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me." — Casca

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What does "it's all Greek to me" mean?

"It was my first time ever watching rugby, and I had no idea what was going on. It was all Greek to me."

"Love is blind." - The Merchant of Venice

"...But love is blind and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit;..." Jessica

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What does "love is blind" mean?

"I wouldn't put those two together, but love is blind, I guess..."

"Wear my heart upon my sleeve" - Othello

"For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, 'tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am." - Iago

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"wearing your heart on your sleeve" means...

“I can tell Jenny is upset; she wears her heart on her sleeve.”

"A heart of gold." - Henry V

"The king's a bawcock, and a heart of gold, A lad of life, an imp of fame; Of parents good, of fist most valiant. ..."

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Someone who has "a heart of gold" is...

"She gave me a lift all the way from the station yesterday. And drove me past McDonald's on the way. And paid! She really has a heart of gold!"

"Break the ice." - The Taming of the Shrew.

"... 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 (as Lucentio)

"Wild goose chase". - Romeo and Juliet

"Nay, if they wits run the wild-goose chase, I have done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: was I with you there for the goose?" — Mercutio

"It's Greek to me." - Julius Caesar

"Nay, an I tell you that, Ill ne'er look you i' the face again: but those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me." — Casca

"Love is blind." - The Merchant of Venice

"...But love is blind and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit;..." Jessica

"Wear my heart upon my sleeve" - Othello

"For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, 'tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am." - Iago

"A heart of gold." - Henry V

"The king's a bawcock, and a heart of gold, A lad of life, an imp of fame; Of parents good, of fist most valiant. ..."

Shakespeare's impact on the English language!

"Break the ice." - The Taming of the Shrew.

"A few glasses of wine at a party can help break the ice."

"Wild goose chase". - Romeo and Juliet

"It turns out that my brother took my car keys. I had been on a wild goose chase this whole morning searching them in the entire house."

"It's Greek to me." - Julius Caesar

"It was my first time ever watching rugby, and I had no idea what was going on. It was all Greek to me."

"Love is blind." - The Merchant of Venice

"I wouldn't put those two together, but love is blind, I guess..."

"Wear my heart upon my sleeve" - Othello

“I can tell Jenny is upset; she wears her heart on her sleeve.”

"A heart of gold." - Henry V

"She gave me a lift all the way from the station yesterday. And drove me past McDonald's on the way. And paid! She really has a heart of gold!"

"Break the ice." - The Taming of the Shrew.

"Wild goose chase". - Romeo and Juliet

"It's Greek to me." - Julius Caesar

"Love is blind." - The Merchant of Venice

"Wear my heart upon my sleeve" - Othello

"A heart of gold." - Henry V

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