Here at Carthage College, we (the kooky members of the English department) dedicate a week of the year to celebrate, commemorate, and memorialize the passing of The Bard, William Shakespeare. On April 23, 1616, the literary marvel passed away making this year the 400th anniversary of his death! So, in honor of his passing, here are a few things coined by the one and only Bard that we still use today:
"For goodness sake" - Henry VIII
"Rant" - Hamlet
"Knock knock! Who's there?" - Macbeth
"All's well that ends well" - All's Well That Ends Well
"Wild goose chase" - Romeo and Juliet
"Too much of a good thing" - As You Like It
"Vanish into thin air" - Othello
"Swagger" - Hamlet
"A heart of gold" - Henry V
"Own flesh and blood" - Hamlet
"Wear your heart on your sleeve" - Othello
"All of a sudden" - The Taming of the Shrew
"Come what, come may" - Macbeth
"There's method in my madness" - Hamlet
"Faint-hearted" - Henry VI, Part 1
"Naked Truth" - Love's Labour's Lost
"The world is your oyster" - The Merry Wives of Windsor
These are just a few of the many! But, next time you catch yourself using one of these familiar phrases, remembers to give credit where credit is due. And to quote Shakespeare, "Farewell!" - Romeo and Juliet
