I have loved the works of William Shakespeare since I was a child. I was exposed to it early, which is just as well. If I had first experienced it at school, I would hate it. My English teachers made it sound so dull. My nephew was given that impression when he first studied Hamlet. He soon took an interest when I told him (SPOILER ALERT) that everyone died, there was a suicide, and that Hamlet raped his own mother(I'm not entirely sure 14 year olds should be taught this really).
Anyway, today marks the 452nd anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. It also marks the 400th anniversary of his death. How annoying must it be to die on your birthday? In celebration of his birthday, we are encouraged to talk like Shakespeare for the day. However, we don't really need to say anything all that differently. Many phrases coined by Will are still in use today. For example :-
“All our yesterdays”— (Macbeth), “As good luck would have it” — (The Merry Wives of Windsor), “As merry as the day is long” — (Much Ado About Nothing / King John), “Bated breath” — (The Merchant of Venice), “Be-all and the end-all” — (Macbeth), “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” — (Hamlet), “Brave new world” — (The Tempest), “Break the ice” — (The Taming of the Shrew), “Brevity is the soul of wit” — (Hamlet), “Refuse to budge an inch” — (Measure for Measure / The Taming of the Shrew), “Cold comfort” — (The Taming of the Shrew / King John), “Conscience does make cowards of us all” — (Hamlet), “Crack of doom” — (Macbeth), “Dead as a doornail” — (Henry VI Part II), “A dish fit for the gods” — (Julius Caesar), “Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war” — (Julius Caesar), “Devil incarnate” — (Titus Andronicus / Henry V), “Eaten me out of house and home” — (Henry IV Part II), “Faint hearted” — (Henry VI Part I), “Fancy-free” — (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), “Forever and a day” — (As You Like It), “For goodness’ sake” — (Henry VIII), “Foregone conclusion” — (Othello), “Full circle” — (King Lear), “The game is afoot” — (Henry IV Part I), “Give the devil his due” — (Henry IV Part I), “Good riddance” — (Troilus and Cressida), “Jealousy is the green-eyed monster” — (Othello), “Heart of gold” — (Henry V), “Hoist with his own petard” — (Hamlet), “Ill wind which blows no man to good” — (Henry IV Part II), “In my heart of hearts” — (Hamlet), “In my mind’s eye” — (Hamlet), “Kill with kindness” — (The Taming of the Shrew), “Knock knock! Who’s there?” — (Macbeth), “Laughing stock” — (The Merry Wives of Windsor), “Live long day” — (Julius Caesar), “Love is blind” — (The Merchant of Venice), “Milk of human kindness” — (Macbeth), “More sinned against than sinning” — (King Lear), “One fell swoop” — (Macbeth), “Play fast and loose” — (King John), “Set my teeth on edge” — (Henry IV Part I), “Wear my heart upon my sleeve” — (Othello), “Wild-goose chase” — (Romeo and Juliet)
