The British are known for their swearing creativity, even today and it’s become a common theme on the Internet. While there are plenty of coarse and harsh words out there, the magic of swearing British style is often that the words used are inventive and unusual. Is it any surprise really when you consider that we were taught by the Bard?
The English language really does owe so much to William Shakespeare who is said to have added 1,400 common words to the language, and as many as 4,000 if you include derivatives of other words. He also wasn’t bad at a quippy insult, as many of his plays show and so we’ve trawled his works to bring you ten of the best Shakespeare Insults.
“Your brain is as dry as the remainder biscuit after voyage.”
From As You Like It
“Thy tongue outvenoms all the worms of Nile.”
From Cymbeline
“Thou art like a toad; ugly and venomous.”
From As You Like It
“Out of my sight! thou dost infect my eyes.”
From Richard III
“Thou art the son and heir of a mongrel bitch.”
From King Lear
“Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.”
From Othello
“You, minion, are too saucy.”
From The Two Gentlemen of Verona
“Away, you three inch fool.”
From The Taming of the Shrew
“O you beast! I’ll so maul you and your toasting-iron, that you shall think the devil is come from hell”
From King John
“No longer from head to foot than from hip to hip, she is spherical, like a globe, I could find out countries in her.”
From The Comedy of Errors
Very pithy indeed, I haven’t laughed so much for ages. I hope you enjoyed reading this blog as much as I enjoyed creating it. Feel free to add your own favourite Shakespeare insults in the comments, and if you love a good old Shakespeare Insult then you’ll love this Insults mug with quips from the Bard.
Shakespeare Insults Mug US
Shakespeare Insults Mug UK
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