It is has been said that Shakespeare created 1 out of
10 of the words he included in his plays. Some of the words already existed,
but Shakespeare employs them creatively by using them in a different part
of speech. The words that Shakespeare used that were already slang became
greatly popularized after being included in his plays. Listed below are
77 of the words and phrases that Shakespeare either coined or helped to
popularize.
amazement (n)
assassination (n)
bandit (n)
bedroom (n)
bump (n)
buzzers (n)
bet (v)
blanket (v)
blushing (adj)
bloodstained (adj)
critic (n)
circumstantial (adj)
cold-blooded (adj)
countless (adj)
dawn (n)
design (n)
dickens (n)
discontent (n)
dislocate (v)
drugged (v)
dwindle (v)
embrace (n)
employer (n)
eyeball (n)
elbow (v)
elbow-room (n)
excellent (adj)
fashionable (adj)
generous (adj)
gloomy (adj)
glow (n)
gnarled (adj)
gossip (v)
green eyed monster (n)
gust (n)
hint (n)
hurry (v)
jaded (adj)
jet (v)
juiced (adj)
lackluster (adj)
laughable (n)
luggage (n)
leapfrog (n)
lonely (adj)
lustrous (adj)
nervy (adj)
manager (n)
monumental (adj)
misquote (v)
numb (v)
puke (v)
quarrelsome (adj)
radiance (n)
rant v)
rancorous (adj)
roadway (n)
sanctimonious (adj)
soft-hearted (adj)
swagger (v)
torture (v)
unreal (adj)
watchdog (n)
worthless (adj)
Phrases:
neither rhyme reason
mind’s eye
eaten … out of house and home
apple of one’s eye
into the thin air
caught red-handed
household words
method in his madness
as white as the driven snow
budge an inch
one fell swoop
flesh and blood
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