Favourite Shakespearean insults and put-downs

[Weez]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 10:13pm

I went to see 'Timon Of Athens' yesterday. Literally the only thing I liked about the play was Apemantus. I felt particular joy when he trundled out this early "yo mama": "Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog?".

I also carry an extreme fondness for Falstaff's "Do thou amend thy face and I'll amend my life" from '1 Henry IV', and have it held firmly in reserve for any occasion where someone tells me to get a life.

Shakespeare came up with about a bazillion of these awesome lines. What are your favourites? Whether they're well-known classic insults, or ones that don't get so much press but are just as cutting as anything we could come up with today, I feel this would be a much more loving and warm website if we shared them. :3

Updated On: 7/27/08 at 10:13 PM

[Mythus]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 10:25pm

I wish I used any regularly.

Though I love insulting people who misuse Shakespearean quotes, does that count? I was with some friends last night and after one complained, another girl (who I happen to dislike greatly) said "Methinks the lady doth protest too much." First of all, "methinks" is at the end of the sentence, and second of all, "protest" does not actually mean that. Please read the actual play.

Oh, and "to thine own self be true". Don't...don't even get me started.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 10:29pm

It involves Shakespeare nerdery and insulting people, it totally counts. What about those people who quote Gaunt's "this sceptred isle" speech like he's saying "wow, England is so totally great!"? Context is everything. O_O

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 11:12pm

I've always been fond of saying "What, you egg? Young fry of treachery!" before stabbing small children.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 12:33am

go, thou, and fill another room in hell

I forget which play.

Could be better by replacing room with thread.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 2:04am

Not so much an insult or put-down... more of "comeback"

When someone says "so and so was talking about you," I reply, "What the great will do, the less will prattle of"

-Twelfth Night

[Harpo]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 4:13am

Willie has so many good zingers:

He has not so much brain as ear wax- Troilus and Cressida

You are not worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face - King Lear

All's Well That Ends Well:
If thou be'st not an ass, I am a youth of fourteen.

Methinks't thou art a general offence and every man should beat thee.

BTW, there is a random insults generator on www.william-shakespeare.org.uk should you be in the mood to add to your list of handy insults e.g., You crusty botch of nature! and Thou base open-arsed tyrant!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 9:20am

From HENRY V

Pistol: Pish for thee, Iceland dog! thou prick-ear'd cur of Iceland!

Its even better when delivered by Robert Newton in Olivier's film.

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 10:13am

NO CONTEST.

From Titus Andronicus:

CHIRON. Thou hast undone our mother.

AARON. Villain, I have done thy mother.