The greatest dramatist and playwright of all time, William Shakespeare, not only brought some of the most humorous, sorrowful, and charming plays and sonnets to literature, but he also coined some incisive expressions that are still used widely nowadays. In the modern world, where individuals are always seeking ways to improve their skills, the following is a list of some well-known terms that are attributed to the master wordsmith.
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Words by Shakespeare
- Addiction: One of the terms that is attributed to Shakespeare and is frequently used by youngsters to describe an obsession with someone or something. Around 1603, he first used it in his tragedy “Othello.”
- Bandit: The dramatist first used the word “bandit” in Part 2 of his history play Henry VI, based on the former King. A bandit is an outlaw who engages in robbery-like actions and poses a risk to human life.
- Bedazzled: The term “bedazzled” possesses an identical zing to a trending Taylor Swift’s song “Bejeweled” and is commonly used to complement others. Shakespeare is credited with originating the word in his comedy “The Taming of the Shrew” in the 1590s. It means to greatly impress someone with exceptional skill or striking appearance” in his comedy play “The Taming of the Shrew” in the 1590s.
- Critic: A critic is a person who evaluates other people, things, circumstances, or a work of literature or film for publication or evaluation. The playwright used it for the first time in his mid-1590s play “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”
- Dwindle: “Dwindle” is another word that is said to have been created by the Classics author. It initially appeared in 1606 in his most well-known classic tragedy, “Macbeth,” and is used to characterize an entity or person who alters their standing.
- Swagger: The term “swagger” was first introduced to characterize someone who walks or behaves in an overly confident and flamboyant way in his comedy drama “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which was written in about 1595 or 1596.
Phrases by Shakespeare
- Good Riddance: Shakespeare is credited with creating the phrase “good riddance,” which describes the relief and satisfaction one feels to lose someone or something. This is among the most used phrases in today’s trends. It was originally used in the play “Troilus and Cressida” in 1602, according to certain accounts.
- All that glitters isn’t gold. This is one of the most cautionary pieces of advice people use in daily life. It means things are not as good as they appear to be. The classic writer first introduced it in Act 2, Scene 7, of his play “The Merchant of Venice” in the 1590s.
- It’s Greek to me: Shakespeare’s history play and tragedy “Julius Caesar,” which debuted in 1599, is said to be where he first used this well-known line. He wanted to explain why he didn’t understand things. This is because Greece has many complicated histories and stories.
- Wild Goose Chase: The playwright created the term “wild goose chase” in his tragedy “Romeo and Juliet,” which tells the story of the romance between two young Italians from rival families. Shakespeare wrote the play early in his career. It’s used to explain situations where you don’t need to pay attention and when your efforts would be in vain.
William Shakespeare is regarded as one of the most brilliant people to have ever lived. His play’s depth and diversity are just astounding. In the works he produces, truth and beauty are skillfully interwoven. The dramatist made a significant contribution to literature, and his exquisite legacy is demonstrated by the words he wrote at the time that are now considered charming.