Theatre

10 top Shakespearean insults

Shakespeare was born on this week, 450 years ago. His plays have featured the warmest characters, humorous lines and romantic plots, but have also featured the best insults imaginable.

To celebrate his amazing way with words, here are 10 of our favourite insults from his work:

“Out of my sight! Thou dost infect mine eyes.”  – William Shakespeare, Richard III

“O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom, you thief of love!” – William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

“Your brain is as dry as the remainder biscuit after voyage.” – As You Like It

“You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!” – William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

“Out, you tallow-face! You baggage!” – William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool no where but in’s own house.” – William Shakespeare, Hamlet

“I’ll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him.” – William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

“Thy tongue outvenoms all the worms of Nile.” – Cymbeline

“Thou art like a toad; ugly and venomous.” – As You Like It

You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I’ll tickle your catastrophe!” – Henry IV , Part 2

Fancy seeing some Shakespeare this year? See Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Albert Hall, Henry IV at the Barbican or Shakespeare In Love at the Noel Coward Theatre.