Tag Archives: a little alliteration

descendants and decedents

Phrases we have taken or adapted or forgotten from Shakespeare More comprehensive lists here and here. I tried to stick with phrases that originated with Shakespeare, but some of these may not have. A “it’s all one to me” Troilus … Continue reading

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sea change (from Shakespeare to P.T. Anderson in 4 moves)

“sea change” is a phrase evocative of something it no longer means Shakespeare (great coiner of phrases and words) first used “sea change” in The Tempest: Full fathom five thy father lies: Of his bones are coral made: Those are … Continue reading

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lollygag

def: to dawdle or delay; to neck (as in below) According to the Oxford English Dictionary, The Northern Vindicator of Estherville, Iowa, in 1868 referred to “The lascivious lolly-gagging lumps of licentiousness who disgrace the common decencies of life by … Continue reading

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words—related/unrelated, confusing/amusing

accountable—capable of being explained/defended culpable—deserving blame acrimony—bitterness, harshness towards someone or something agrimony—a plant of the rose family anaphora—the repetition of the same word at the beginning of consecutive sentences anathema—something or someone that is strongly disliked anhedonia—an inability to … Continue reading

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