David Mitchell: Shakespeare’s Cliches (updated)
David Mitchell is one the Oxbridge comedians that started with all five members of Monty Python, and now includes Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rowan Atkinson, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Ayoade, Al Murray, Jimmy Carr and many, many more.
In this scene Shakespeare has found a sudden fascination with using new words and expressions invented by himself – and that nobody else can understand. It’s funny because all of those expressions have become a part of daily English, and perhaps few people realise their origins. If Shakesopeare were to use them in conversation, rather than in his plays, it would have confused everybody.
Later, I will try to type out all of the expressions used in this video! If you recognise any, please write them in the comments below.
Here are the expressions used in this sketch, all invented by Shakespeare:
in a nutshell
neither here nor there
the world’s my oyster
too much of a good thing
all of a sudden
give the devil his due
there’s method in my madness
a foregone conclusion
bedazzled
in stitches
with bated breath
what the dickens!
spotless
didn’t sleep one wink
send me packing
a wild goose chase
vanish into thin air
dead as a door nail