SHAKESPEAREAN INSULT CARDSIdeas for using the cards

Thanks for your purchase! Here are a few ideas on how you can use these fun cards in your classroom.

• Cut the cards and put them in a bag or hat. Have each student draw two or three cards to make their own random insult. Instruct students to start their insult with “Thou.” With their insults, students can get practice saying Shakespeare’s words by hurling an insult at one of their classmates (or the teacher).

• Working in groups, give each group a bunch of the cards and challenge them to create their best insults with the cards given.

• In pairs or in groups, ask students to review the definitions and speculate how the insult got its definition. You can also ask students to review any insults in which the definition is surprising and why (explaining how words change meaning over time).

• If you are currently reading one of Shakespeare’s plays, give students a variety of cards and have them select several insult words that could relate to a character in the text. Have them explain their reasoning.

BUGBEAR(Frightful imaginary object)

APISH(Foolish, like an ape)

HELL-GOVERNED(Under the Devil’s rule)

ARTLESS(Rough and unskilled)

BESLUBBERING(Slobbering)

CODPIECE(Pouch worn by men on the crotch of their pants to accentuate their genitals)

HALLOW-EYED(Having sunken eyes, like those on a dead body)

ILL-TEMPERED(Irritable, being in a bad mood)

CORNUTO(A man whose wife was unfaithful)

COT-QUEAN(A man who does women’s household duties)

COXCOMB(Someone who is conceited without reason to be)

CHURLISH(Rude, vulgar)

CRUDY(Crude or raw)

DEGENERATE(Someone lacking morals)

FUSTY(Moldy and/or stale)

GOATISH(Being lustful)

GORBELLIED(Big bellied, fat)

LEADEN-FOOTED(Clumsy)

COZENER(Cheater)

DISSEMBLER(Hypocrite)

DULLARD(Boring person)

LEPTUS-LEERING(Smiling like a toad)

GREASY(Being fake polite)

LILY-LIVERED(Being easily scared)

DUNGHILL(A pile of excrement)

FASHION-MONGER(Someone who is overly concerned with fashion)

FOOT-LICKER(A brown-noser)

INSOLENT(Rude and disrespectful)

MOTLEY-MINDED(Foolish, stupid)

DULL-BRAINED(Dumb, not smart)

EYE-OFFENDING(Painful to look at)

FAT-KIDNEYED(Greedy, especially with food)

FLAP-EARED(Having big ears)

HARD-HAIRED(Having thick or rough hair)

FACINERIOUS(Wicked, evil)

LISPING(Speaking childishly)

LUBBERLY(Awkwardly)

GECK(Fool)

GIGLEY(Giddy girl)

IDIOT-WORSHIPER(Someone who believes in stupidity)

JACK-A-NAPE(A conceited person)

LEWDSTER(A sexually offensive person)

OVERGORGED(Stuffed from too much food)

PANDERLY(Pimping, acting as a go-between)

PESTIFEROUS(Annoying, like a pest)

PLUMPY(FAT)

THREE-SUITED(Like a servant, who only had three suits of clothing per year)

PIG-NUT(Lazy and self-centered)

POTATO FINGER(A womanizer)

RAT-CATCHER(Someone who has a low-level job)

RATSBANE(Rat poison)

RASCALLY(Untrustworthy)

REEKY(Stinky)

SLOBBERY(Wet and messy)

SCUM(A layer of dirt or filth)

SCUT(Someone who is thought to be foolish)

STOCK-FISH(Dried fish)

TICKLEBRAIN(A drunkard)

VILLIAGO(A villain)

SPONGY(Soft)

VIPEROUS(Poisonous)

UNWIPED(Unclean)

WANTON(Whorish, sexually immoral)

WARPED(Deformed)

WITLESS(With no intelligence)

KNOTTY-PATED(Thick-headed)

PALE-HEARTED(Cowardly)

PIGEON-LIVERED(Fearful, scared)

PUKE-STOCKING(Well-made, dark colored stockings)

PUPPY-HEADED(Silly)

RUG-HEADED(Shaggy looking hair)

RUMP-FED(Fat buttocks)

SHEEP-BITING(Mean)

SNAIL-PACED(Slow in thought and speed)

STRETCH-MOUTHED(Foul-mouthed)

MUSTY(Smelling moldy)

MEASLE(Disease)

MISCREANT(A vile, disgustingly evil scoundrel)

RANK-SCENTED(Bad smelling)

SHRILL-TONGUED(Communicating in loud, high-pitched tones)

MUSHRUMP(Mushroom)

OX-HEAD(Idiot)

PRINCOX(A rude boy)

QUATCH-BUTTOCK(Wide and fat buttocks)

RAMPALLIAN(A strong and violent person)

RATSBAIN(Rat poison)

THICK-EYED(Having bad eye-sight)

TRIPE-VISAGE(Having a face that looks like internal organs)

SNEAPING(Sharply critical but cleaver)

THRASONICAL(Braggart)

BEEF-WITTED(Having the intelligence ofa cow)

BEAST-EATING(Immature)

BALD-PATED(Being bald-headed)

BOILED-BRAINS(Hotheaded)

CLAY-BRAINED(Stupid)

BAGGAGE(Prostitute)

BLOCKHEAD(Someone who is slow to understand)

COSTERMONGER(A fruit and vegetable seller)

YEASTY(Ditzy, scatterbrained)

RASCALLY(Untrustworthy)