Sometimes there is just the perfect word or phrase for a situation. The wittiest of us seem to effortlessly come up with these in real life. Authors and screenwriters are in constant pursuit of them. But when just the right thing is said at the right time, audiences simply know it, and ultimately remember and cherish those words.
Such turns of phrase may be lighthearted, such as Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones quipping, “That’s what I do. I drink, and I know things.” They may be awe-inspiring, like Julius Caesar’s famous “Veni, vidi, vici” line in his letter to the Roman Senate, reporting on his swift victory in the Battle of Zela. Or they may mark turning points in history, such as Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
There is one man, however, who was seemingly born to find those perfect words, and I’m talking of course about English playwright William Shakespeare. His influence on literature cannot be overstated, from his complex characters to his social commentary to his bold experimentation with the very concept of storytelling, but it is his wordplay that we are going to focus on here. Shakespeare had such a creative command of language that he could seemingly bend the English language to his will and coin words and phrases we now can’t live without.
Sometimes Shakespeare introduced audiences to the utility of a certain little-known word or phrase, like “wild goose chase” or “heart of gold” or “bloodstained.” Collectively, spectators at The Globe 400 years ago and modern audiences alike said, “Wow, you’re right. That is a good word,” and we continued using it.
Other times his creativity was to fit the poetic needs of a verse or quatrain. And still other times it was simply an expert wordsmith using his knowledge of Latin, French, and Italian to experiment with and ultimately help shape what we now refer to as Early Modern English. All in all, Shakespeare is credited with bringing over 1,700 new words to the English language, many of which we still use today. Of his vast linguistic legacy, below are seven of his most classic.
1. “Break the ice”
This phrase appeared in the play The Taming of the Shrew when Petruchio is discussing how to pursue courtship with Bianca. Today the metaphor is still used as it was then for a potential romantic context, but also now includes common social situations like parties or business gatherings.
2. “What’s done is done”
This line from Macbeth is now commonly used for inspiration and to promote healing and moving forward. In the play, however, Lady Macbeth uses it in a much more cold-blooded fashion, as she is telling her husband to stop worrying about having just stabbed and murdered King Duncan. The sentiment has also enjoyed a recent resurgence via its linguistic cousin – “It is what it is.”
3. “All that glitters is not gold”
The Prince of Morocco utters these words in The Merchant of Venice, reflecting on what is truly important and the ease with which we can be deceived by the superficial. This life lesson has transferred especially well to the digital age, where influencers and crypto millionaires may paint a pretty picture to dress up something hollow or false.
4. “In a pickle”
This phrase has evolved a bit since being used by Alonso in The Tempest, as it was used in the play to discuss an unfavorable situation akin to physically being in a barrel of the pungent brine used to make pickles. Now it is used more to refer to a predicament or dilemma.
5. “Love is blind”
Also in The Merchant of Venice, the character Jessica makes this very self-aware observation regarding her love for Lorenzo. The meaning of this expression has stayed relatively true to the original, in that love often clouds our judgment and causes us to overlook minor (and major) faults in someone. A similar sentiment was later echoed by Emily Dickinson in the phrase “the heart wants what it wants,” which itself also enjoyed a 2000s resurgence through the Selena Gomez pop song of the same name.
6. “Too much of a good thing”
The character Rosalind from As You Like It not only uses this apt phrase, but also reflects on it, questioning what causes us all to “desire too much of a good thing.” This saying is another example of Shakespeare’s succinct ability to address the enigmas of the human psyche, many of which remain as puzzling now as they were 500 years ago.
7. “To wear your heart on your sleeve”
This expression means to openly display one’s emotions, and has a rather gory origin in the play Othello. Iago claims he will not hide his vulnerabilities and will openly wear his heart on his sleeve, “for birds to peck at.” The phrase has retained its meaning, though always without the gruesome ending.
In the world of English language and literature, William Shakespeare stands alone atop the pinnacle of creative brilliance and artistic mastery. His remarkable ability to craft memorable phrases and coin new expressions has left an indelible mark on the language itself, but he is also renowned for his ability to use these words to speak to the human condition, the emotions that everyone – from peasant to king – experiences. It is this relatability that has helped Shakespeare’s words endure for centuries and cemented his standing as one of the world’s most brilliant minds. All’s well that ends well, indeed.
