Common phrases from Shakespeare

Have you ever heard someone say “it's high time,” “what's done is done,” or that they need a little “elbow room?”

All those phrases, and many more, were printed in—and made popular by—Shakespeare’s plays.

Explore Shakespeare's language, and you may be surprised by how closely it resembles our own! Click on the links in the caption to see where each phrase is used in the texts. 

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Highlighted image of "Neither rhyme nor reason" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
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Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
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STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
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Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Date: 
1623

Neither rhyme nor reason – from As You Like It, Act 3, scene 2, line 405. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts.

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Highlighted image of "break the ice" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.

Break the ice -- from Taming of the Shrew  Act  1  Scene  2  Line  271. Read the line in Shakespeare's  First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts

Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

Break the ice – from The Taming of the Shrew, Act  1, scene 2, line 271. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts.

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Highlighted image of "'tis high time" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

‘Tis high time – from The Comedy of Errors, Act 3, scene 2, line 172. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts.

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Highlighted image of "eyesore" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

Eyesore – from The Taming of the Shrew, Act 3, scene 2, line 98. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts.

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Highlighted image of "not slept one wink" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

Not slept one wink – from Cymbeline, Act 3, scene 4, line 107. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts. 

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Highlighted image of "What's done is done" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

What’s done is done – from Macbeth, Act 3, scene 2, line 6. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts. 

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Highlighted image of "For goodness' sake" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

For goodness’ sake – from Henry VIII, Prologue. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts. 

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Highlighted image of "puking" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

Puking – from As You Like It, Act 2, scene 7, line 146. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts. 

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Highlighted image of "Elbow room" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

Elbow room – from King John, Act 5, scene 7, line 29. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts. 

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Highlighted image of "Too much of a good thing" in the text block of Shakespeare's First Folio.
Item Title: 
Works. 1623] Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies.
Item Call Number: 
STC 22273 Fo.1 no.68
Luna Link: 
View in our digital image collection
Item Creator: 
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Item Date: 
1623

Too much of a good thing – from As You Like It, Act, scene 1, line 125. Read the line in Shakespeare's First Folio, or in Folger Digital Texts.