Idioms from Shakespeare

15 idioms from shakespeare with what each one means. Tap one for its origin, examples and a quick check.

All that glitters is not gold
All that glitters is not gold means that something attractive or impressive on the outside may not be valuable or good.
Foregone conclusion
A foregone conclusion is a result that seems certain before it actually happens.
Go against the grain
To go against the grain is to do something different from what is normal or expected, or something that feels wrong to you.
Heart of gold
Someone with a heart of gold is very kind, generous and caring, always ready to help other people.
Love is blind
Love is blind means people in love often fail to see the faults of the person they love.
One fell swoop
If you do several things in one fell swoop, you do them all at once, in a single quick action.
Primrose path
The primrose path is an easy, pleasant way of living or acting that leads to trouble or ruin.
Salad days
Your salad days are your youth, especially a time when you were young and inexperienced, or a past period of great success.
Sea change
A sea change is a deep and complete change in something, such as a person's attitude, a situation or a whole field.
Star-crossed lovers
Star-crossed lovers are a couple whose love seems doomed by bad luck or fate, so they cannot be happy together.
The game is afoot
The game is afoot means that something exciting, such as an adventure, a plan or an investigation, has begun.
The world is your oyster
If the world is your oyster, you have the freedom and chance to do almost anything or go almost anywhere you want.
Wear your heart on your sleeve
If you wear your heart on your sleeve, you show your feelings openly, so others can easily see how you feel.
Wild goose chase
A wild goose chase is a long, useless search or effort for something that is hard or impossible to find or get.
With bated breath
With bated breath means anxiously or excitedly, while waiting to find out what will happen.

Idioms from Shakespeare

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