{"id":5471,"date":"2016-06-07T09:00:09","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T13:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=5471"},"modified":"2016-05-27T20:23:10","modified_gmt":"2016-05-28T00:23:10","slug":"remembering-shakespeare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/remembering-shakespeare\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Shakespeare"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"shakespeare\"

Image by DncnH on Flickr.com licensed under CC BY 2.0.<\/p><\/div>\n

This year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare\u2019s death and the English-speaking world is remembering this amazing author in many ways. Although there is some debate about who the man William Shakespeare actually was, most people know him as one of the greatest English poets, playwrights (a person who writes plays), and actors that ever lived.\u00a0 He is often called \u201cEngland\u2019s national poet,\u201d but his influence stretches far beyond England. English speakers around the world, and English as a Second Language speakers, frequently study and fall in love with his poems and plays. Although his works can be hard to read at times, as the English language has changed a great deal in the last 400 years, his writing is still beautiful and full of meaning.<\/p>\n

What many people don\u2019t know is that some of our everyday speech also comes directly from Shakespeare. Some of the lines from his plays and poems have become so widely used they are now part of our common vocabulary. Today we are going to look at 10 such phrases. Some of them may be new to you as an ESL learner, but all of these phrases are good ones to learn as they are heard regularly in common conversation.\u00a0 So, let\u2019s learn to speak like Shakespeare!<\/p>\n

to lie low<\/strong> – keep out of sight; to hide
\nExample: The thieves tried to lie low after the robbery, but the police found them anyway.
\n(From the play Much Ado About Nothing<\/em>)<\/p>\n

a sorry sight<\/strong> \u2013 someone with a messy or sad appearance
\nExample: After the 5-day camping trip the boys were a sorry sight.
\n(From the play Macbeth<\/em>)<\/p>\n

mum’s the word<\/strong> \u2013 both a request and a warning to say nothing
\nExample: Remember, mum\u2019s the word about the surprise party this weekend.
\n(From the play Henry VI, Part II<\/em>)<\/p>\n

to catch a cold<\/strong> \u2013 to get sick with a cold
\nExample: I caught a cold from my son.
\n(From the play Cymbeline<\/em>)<\/p>\n

a spotless reputation<\/strong> \u2013 a perfect record; or positive beliefs\/ideas about someone
\nExample: The boss only hires people with spotless reputations.
\n(From the play Richard II<\/em>)<\/p>\n

one fell swoop<\/strong> \u2013 suddenly or all at once
\nExample: In one fell swoop he was there and then he was gone.
\n(From the play Macbeth<\/em>)<\/p>\n

to be in stitches<\/strong> \u2013 to laugh very hard
\nExample: The movie had us in stitches.
\n(From the play Twelfth Night<\/em>)<\/p>\n

a heart of gold<\/strong> \u2013 to be very kind or good natured
\nExample: Your father has a heart of gold.
\n(From the play Henry V<\/em>)<\/p>\n

all of a sudden<\/strong> \u2013 immediately, happening quickly
\nExample: It happened all of a sudden; I didn\u2019t really see anything.
\n(From the play The Taming of the Shrew<\/em>)<\/p>\n

to break the ice<\/strong> \u2013 to initiate a friendship, to start a conversation with someone you don\u2019t know
\nExample: I tried to think of something funny to say to break the ice.
\n(From the play The Taming of the Shrew<\/em>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

This year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare\u2019s death and the English-speaking world is remembering this amazing author in many ways. Although there is some debate about who the man William Shakespeare actually was, most people know him as one of the greatest English poets, playwrights (a person who writes plays), and actors that ever…<\/p>\n

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