'For goodness sake'

Many of our everyday expressions have venerable roots

A fool's paradise

Romeo and Juliet

A foregone conclusion

Othello

A tower of strength

Richard III

An eye-sore

The Taming of the Shrew

Bated breath

The Merchant of Venice

Budge an inch

The Taming of the Shrew

Cold comfort

King John

Come full circle

King Lear

Come what may

Macbeth

Devil incarnate

Henry V

As white as driven snow

The Winter's Tale

Household words

Henry V

Dead as a doornail

Henry IV, Part 2

In my heart of hearts

Hamlet

Eaten me out of house and home

Henry IV, Part 2

Elbow room

King John

Fatal vision

Macbeth

For goodness sake

Henry VIII

Too much of a good thing

Henry IV, Part

Good night, ladies

Hamlet

Good riddance

Troilus and Cressida

Knock, knock! Who's there?

Macbeth

Into thin air

The Tempest

Milk of human kindness

Macbeth

Shakespeare Top 10 lists
Most sinister villains

1. Aaron, the Moor, Titus Andronicus

2. King Richard III, Richard III

3. Iago, Othello

4. Edmund, King Lear

5. Regan, King Lear

6. Goneril, King Lear

7. Cornwall, King Lear

8. Leontes, The Winter's Tale

9. Macbeth, Macbeth

10. The mob, Julius Caesar

Greatest women's roles

1. Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing

2. Paulina, The Winter's Tale

3. Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra

4. Kate, The Taming of the Shrew

5. Portia, Julius Caesar

6. Portia, The Merchant of Venice

7. Rosalind, As You Like It

8. Helena, All's Well That Ends Well

9. Cordelia, King Lear

10. Emelia, Othello

Most passionate lovers

1. Titania and Bottom

A Midsummer Night's Dream

2. Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

3. Beatrice and Benedick

Much Ado About Nothing

4. Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra

5. Hamlet and Ophelia

Hamlet

6. Petruchio and Katherine

The Taming of the Shrew

7. Henry V and Katharine

Henry V

8. Trolius and Cressida

Trolius and Cressida

9. Duke Orsino and Viola

Twelfth Night

10. Pyramus and Thisbe

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Most conspicuously missing mothers

1. Mrs. Lear

King Lear

2. Mrs. Polonius

Hamlet

3. Mrs. Shylock

The Merchant of Venice

4. Mrs. Minola

The Taming of the Shrew

5. Mrs. Egeus

A Midsummer Night's Dream

6. Mrs. Leonato

Much Ado About Nothing

7. Mrs. Brabantio

Othello

8. Mrs. Duncan

Macbeth

9. Mrs. Prospero

The Tempest

10. Mrs. Gloucester

King Lear

Source for expressions and lists: "The Shakespeare Book of Lists" by Michael LoMonico

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to 'For goodness sake'
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0528/p14s01-lecl.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe