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10 Shakespeare Quotes that you can use in Modern English.

The English Language owes a huge debt of gratitude to William Shakespeare. Not only did he giveus some of the worlds most memorable plays that have stood the test of time, he also enriched ourlanguage with a variety of wonderful English phrases.

In fact, a lot of common, modern English phrases originally come from Shakespeare quotes. Whilstresearching this blog post, I was very surprised to find just how many Shakespeare quotes formpart of our everyday, modern English usage.

Id like to share with you just 10 of these quotes. Ive given you the modern English phrase, itsmeaning with an example and the original Shakespeare quote.

1. Bated Breath - worried or excited and paying a lot of attention because you want to know whatwill happen

EX: We waitedwith bated breathto find out who had won.

Shylock:Shall I bend low and in a bondmans key, With bated breathand whispring humbleness,

(The Merchant of Venice)

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2. Cruel to be kind - to say or do something to someone that seems unkind but is intended to helpthem

EX: I told her the facts - sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

Hamlet:So again good night.I must be cruel only to be kind.Thus bad begins and worse remains behind.

(Hamlet)

3. Foregone conclusion - a result that you can be certain about before it happens

EX: That the company was moving to California was a foregone conclusion.

Othello:O monstrous, monstrous!

Iago:Nay, this was but his dream.

Othello:But this denoted a foregone conclusion.

(Othello)

4. He hath eaten me out of house and home (humorous) - to eat too much of someones foodwhen you are a guest in their home

EX:My nephews came to see me at the weekend andate me out of ho use and home!

Hostess Quickly:

He hath eaten me out of house and home , he hath

put all my substance into that fat belly of his

(Henry IV Part 2)

5. Wear my Heart on my sleeve - to make your feelings obvious to others

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EX: You always know how Jack is feeling, because he wears hisheart on his sleeve.

Iago:

In complement extern, tis not long after

But I will wearmy heart upon my sleeve

(Othello)

6. In my heart of hearts - used when you know something is true but dont want to admit it

EX: In his heart of hearts, he knew thathe would have to sell the company.

Hamlet:

That is not passions slave, and I will wear him

In my hearts core, ay,in my heart of heart,

As I do thee.

(Hamlet)

7. In/At one fell swoop - with one sudden action

EX:In one fe l l swoop, hes destroyed everything weve achieved in the last year.

MacDuff (on hearing that all his family have been killed):

What, all my pretty chickens, and their dam,

At one fell swoop?

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(Macbeth)

8. Short shrift - a firm and immediate refusal to do something

EX:Ill give themshort shr i f tif they ask me for money.

Ratcliffe:

Come, come, dispatch: the Duke would be at dinner;

Make a short shrift: he longs to see your head.

(Richard the Third)

9.What the Dickens (informal, old fashioned) - used for emphasising a question when you aresurprised or angry

EX: What the dickensdo you think youre doing?

Ford:Where had you this pretty weathercock?

Mrs. Page:

I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had

him of. What do you call your knights name, sirrah?

NB: dickens here refers to satan and not Charles Dickens.

(The Merry Wives of Windsor)

(The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeares Globe, London)

10. Wild-Goose Chase - a futile pursuit, a worthless hunt

EX: I wasted all afternoon ona wi ld-goose chase- it was so annoying.

Mercutio:

Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am done; for

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