This expression was coined by Shakespeare, who used it literally in Julius Caesar (1:2), where Casca says of a speech by Seneca, deliberately given in Greek so that some would not understand it, For mine own part, it was Greek to me. It soon was transferred to anything unintelligible.
Why did the phrase it’s Greek to me come to mean what it means?
The term was first used in the Latin phrase Graecum est; non legitur, which means It is Greek and therefore is impossible to read. Scribes during the Middle Ages would insert this phrase when copying portions of manuscripts that they found untranslatable or illegible. …
What does Casca mean by it was Greek to me?
Casca says Cicero did speak, but Casca couldn’t understand it because he was speaking Greek. Casca, not an orator himself, doesn’t know Greek. Hence the phrase, It was Greek to me. Casca means that everything sounds the same in a foreign language, because it is all foreign and unintelligible.
Where does its Greek to me come from?
‘It’s Greek to me’ in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar The phrase ‘It’s Greek to me’ is spoken by Casca in Act 1, Scene 2 of Julis Caesar. Caesar attends a festival during which he is offered a crown. It is attended by other senators. There are other speakers and the famous orator, Cicero, makes a speech.
Is it offensive to say it’s all Greek to me?
Not offensive at all! The intent is to say that it is beyond my comprehension. All Greek to me means I am looking at words in the Greek language, and I have never studied the Greek language; therefore, I can’t read the words. This idiom is used in informal speech.
What does finally facing my Waterloo mean?
To encounter one’s ultimate obstacle and to be defeated by it: After beating dozens of challengers, the champion finally met his Waterloo. From the Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated.
What is green envy?
: very envious They were green with envy over the neighbors’ new boat.
What is the meaning of she blew her top?
to become very angry. When her flight was cancelled she blew her top.
What a blunt fellow is this grown to be?
What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! He was quick mettle when he went to school. What a stupid man he’s become! He was so sharp when he was in school.
Who says Dwell I but in the suburbs?
Act 2 Scene 1
| Original Text | Modern Text |
|---|---|
| Dwell I but in the suburbs 295Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus’ harlot, not his wife. | Is my place only on the outskirts of your happiness? If it’s nothing more than that, then I’m your whore, not your wife. |
What play is vanish into thin air from?
Othello Othello is the first time vanish into air is ever recorded. Shakespeare used a similar phrase in The Tempest a few years later when Prospero says, These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air (4.1. 148-150).
What does Casca say mean?
From qu’est-ce que (what (is it that)) + c’est (it is, this is).
Who said small Latin and less Greek?
Ben Jonson famously said that Shakespeare had small Latin and less Greek. This is usually taken to mean that Shakespeare was not well-educated and lacked knowledge of the two foundational languages of Western cultureunlike Jonson himself, who was the consummate classicist.
Who said I am as constant as the northern star?
Julius Caesar In Shakespeare’s ”Julius Caesar,” the title character declares, ”But I am constant as the Northern Star, of whose true fixed and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament. ” In modern astronomical terms, Caesar was saying that he was a flaky, unstable guy.
What does catch a cold mean Shakespeare?
Catch a cold Meaning: to get sick. In Cymbeline, one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays, Iachimo says to Posthumus Leonatus, We will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain, lest the bargain should catch cold and starve … (Act 1, Scene 4).
What does very Greek mean?
a way of saying that you do not understand something that is said or written. Difficult to understand. abstruse. ambiguity. ambiguous.
Has seen better days meaning?
phrase. If you say that something has seen better days, you mean that it is old and in poor condition.
What is the meaning of bit the dust?
1 to come to an end. Fortunately, the fad finally bit the dust and all the trend followers moved on to the next thing.
What is my Waterloo?
meet (one’s) Waterloo To experience a final and resounding defeat. (Napoleon Bonaparte suffered his crushing final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.)
What does meet one’s Waterloo mean?
: to be defeated The governor finally met his Waterloo in the last election.
Does Waterloo mean weakness?
If someone meets their Waterloo, they suffer a very severe defeat or failure, especially one which causes them to finally stop doing what they are trying to do. … Note: In 1815, the French leader Napoleon suffered his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium.
Why is green jealous?
Some believe the color green has been associated with jealousy dating back to the ancient Greeks. They believed jealousy occurred as result of the overproduction of bile, which turned human skin slightly green.
Why do monsters have green eyes?
The phrase ‘green-eyed monster’ probably originated because a person’s skin looks green or yellow when they are sick. ‘Green-eyed monster’ is another way to call someone jealous. The Merchant of Venice is considered a comedy, while Othello is considered a tragedy.
Does green represent jealousy?
Green (Secondary) Is the most restful color to the human eye and can improve vision. Dark Green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy. Yellow-Green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy. Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection.
What does it mean to have an AXE to grind?
phrase. If someone has an axe to grind, they are doing something for selfish reasons. [informal, disapproval] He seems like a decent bloke and I’ve got no axe to grind with him. [ + with]
What does gone off the rails mean?
: to lose control and start to behave in a way that is not normal or acceptable He was a promising student but he went off the rails after he started taking drugs.
What does it mean to be on the edge?
In a precarious position; also, in a state of keen excitement, as from danger or risk. For example, When the stock market crashed, their whole future was on the edge, or Skydivers obviously must enjoy living on the edge. 2.
What meanest thou by that Mend me thou saucy fellow?
if you be out, sir, I can mend you. What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow! Why, sir, cobble you.
What is Caesar’s reaction to Calpurnia’s dream?
Caesar, however, stubbornly refuses to heed this warning and instead sees it as a comment about cowardice. He believes that he should go forth and face whatever dangers he may encounter. He arrogantly states that he is, after all, more dangerous than danger itself. Calpurnia’s insistence, however, wears him down.
What does Brutus love more than he fears death?
While Cassius and Brutus discuss honor, Brutus tells Cassius that he loves the name of honor more than he fears death. Here, Cassius explains that he agrees, revealing that he sees this quality of honor in Brutus.
Graduated from ENSAT (national agronomic school of Toulouse) in plant sciences in 2018, I pursued a CIFRE doctorate under contract with Sun’Agri and INRAE in Avignon between 2019 and 2022. My thesis aimed to study dynamic agrivoltaic systems, in my case in arboriculture. I love to write and share science related Stuff Here on my Website. I am currently continuing at Sun’Agri as an R&D engineer.