Impossible to describe accurately because mere words are not enough. The phrase is Shakespeare’s, who used it in referring to Cleopatra’s beauty: “For her own person, it beggar’d all description” (Antony and Cleopatra, 2.2). It not only entered the language but was, by the late eighteenth century (according to Eric Partridge), a cliché.
Related and Similar Terms 🗣️
- Speechless: Unable to articulate due to amazement or shock.
- Indescribable: Too unusual or extreme to be adequately described.
- Beyond words: Not capable of being put into words because of intensity or depth.
- At a loss for words: Incapable of expression.
Proverbs and Expressions
- Words fail me: Indicates a strong emotional reaction that leaves one unable to speak.
- There’s no accounting for taste: Suggesting that some things are beyond rational explanation because they’re subjective.
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Some people talk in their sleep. Lecturers talk while other people sleep.” — Albert Camus.
- “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.” — Mark Twain.
Synonyms
- Inexpressible
- Ineffable
- Unutterable
Antonyms
- Describable
- Expressible
- Articulable
Suggested Literature 📚
- “Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human” by Harold Bloom — A deep dive into Shakespeare’s works and their impact on language.
- “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace — A book often described as nearly impossible to summarize.
- “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak — With its poignant narrative that’s often described as evading simple descriptions.
Suggested Songs 🎶
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen — A song that defies conventional description.
- “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin — Known for its metaphorical lyrics beyond easy articulation.
Suggested Movies 🎬
- “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” — A movie that leaves many people at a loss for words.
- “Inception” — Known for its complex plot that “beggars all description.”
Suggested Poetry 📜
- “How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning — A sonnet attempting to put the ineffable emotion of love into words.
- “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats — Expresses the ineffable beauty of nature and transcendent emotions.
### Which of these is a genuine phrase used by Shakespeare?
- [x] Beggar'd all description
- [ ] Exhausted all adjectives
- [ ] Depleted all nouns
- [ ] Confounded the thesaurus
> **Explanation:** "Beggar'd all description" is the authentic phrase used by Shakespeare in *Antony and Cleopatra* to describe Cleopatra’s enchanting beauty.
### What does it mean if something "beggars all description"?
- [x] It cannot be accurately described with words.
- [ ] It is extremely cheap.
- [ ] It will never happen.
- [ ] It is exceptionally common.
> **Explanation:** To "beggar all description" means that something is so extraordinary that it defies adequate description.
### Which work of Shakespeare includes the phrase "beggar'd all description"?
- [ ] Hamlet
- [ ] Macbeth
- [ ] A Midsummer Night's Dream
- [x] Antony and Cleopatra
> **Explanation:** The phrase is famously found in *Antony and Cleopatra* and is used to highlight Cleopatra’s allure.
### True or False: The phrase "beggar'd all description" means it is easily described.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. The phrase means that it is impossible to describe something accurately due to its exceptional nature.
Many phrases beggar description, but your journey with words need not end with mere clichés. Continue to explore, articulate, and savor the charm of language.
“A word after a word after a word is power.” — Margaret Atwood
