Shakespeare's Insults

Shakespeare's Insults

You can tell by the hundreds of imaginative biting quips in Shakespeare's plays that the man adored a good insult. The following is small collection of the very best of Shakespeare's jabs and affronts.

You are not worth another word, else I'd call you knave.
All's Well that Ends Well (2.3.262)

I do desire we may be better strangers.
As You Like It (3.2.248)

He is deformed, crooked, old and sere,
Ill-faced, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere;
Vicious, ungentle, foolish, blunt, unkind;
Stigmatical in making, worse in mind.
The Comedy of Errors (4.2.22-5)

Thou whoreson, senseless villain!
The Comedy of Errors (4.4.24)

Dissembling harlot, thou art false in all!
The Comedy of Errors (4.4.100)

You abilities are too infant-like for doing much alone.
Coriolanus (2.1.36)

They lie deadly that tell you you have good faces .
Coriolanus (2.1.59)

You wear out a good wholesome forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange wife and a fosset-seller.
Coriolanus (2.1.68-9)

More of your conversation would infect my brain.
Coriolanus (2.1.91)

For such things as you, I can scarce think there's any, ye're so slight.
Coriolanus (5.1.108-9)

The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes.
Coriolanus (5.4.18)

There is no more mercy in him than there is milk in a male tiger.
Coriolanus (5.4.30)

Away! Thou'rt poison to my blood.
Cymbeline (1.1.128)

O thou vile one!
Cymbeline (1.1.142)

You had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground.
Cymbeline (1.2.26)

Frailty, thy name is woman!
Hamlet (1.2.147)

They have a plentiful lack of wit.
Hamlet (2.2.198)

Take you me for a sponge?
Hamlet (4.2.13)

Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane,
Drink off this potion!
Hamlet (5.2.335-6)

Thou hast the most unsavoury similes.
1 Henry IV (1.2.75)

This sanguine coward, this bed-presser, this horseback-breaker, this huge hill of flesh!
1 Henry IV (2.4.225-6)

'Sblood, you starveling, you elf-skin, you dried neat's tongue, you bull's pizzle, you stock-fish! O for breath to utter what is like thee! you tailor's-yard, you sheath, you bowcase; you vile standing-tuck!
1 Henry IV (2.4.227-9)

There’s no more faith in thee than in a stewed prune.
1 Henry IV (3.3.40)

Hang him, swaggering rascal!
2 Henry IV (2.4.66)

I scorn you, scurvy companion.
2 Henry IV (2.4.115)

Away, you mouldy rogue, away!
2 Henry IV (2.4.117)

Away, you cut-purse rascal! you filthy bung, away! By this wine, I'll thrust my knife in your mouldy chaps, an you play the saucy cuttle with me. Away, you bottle-ale rascal! you basket-hilt stale juggler, you!
2 Henry IV (2.4.120-22)

O braggart vile and damned furious wight!
Henry V (2.1.100)

Avaunt, you cullions!
Henry V (3.2.20)

Such antics do not amount to a man.
Henry V (3.2.28)

He is white-livered and red-faced.
Henry V (3.2.30)

They were devils incarnate.
Henry V (2.3.32)

They are hare-brain'd slaves.
1 Henry VI (1.2.38)

Hag of all despite!
1 Henry VI (3.2.54)

Take her away; for she hath lived too long,
To fill the world with vicious qualities.
1 Henry VI (5.4.30-1)

I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,
And with the other fling it at thy face.
3 Henry VI (5.1.51-2)

Thou mis-shapen dick!
3 Henry VI (5.5.35)

From: http://www.shakespeare-online.com/quotes/shakespeareinsults.html