🎭 In a pickle - Learn English vocabulary & idioms with 'Shakespeare Speaks'

It was a chilly November evening. William Shakespeare's play The Tempest,

full of music, magic and monsters, is being performed for the first time.

King James I and the Queen are having dinner while they watch.

I do like a good play... mmm - and this meat is delicious - bring me more of that pickle!

Mmmm! I love a bit of pickle with my dinner - and a nice glass of wine!

Don't you think you've had enough wine, dear?

Oh do be quiet dear: I can't hear the actors. Now, Mr Shakespeare,

is that a King I see on the stage?

Your Majesty, that is King Alonso of Naples. He is lost on a magical island.

And who is this fellow in the jester's costume?

Your Majesty, that is Trinculo. He drinks a lot, and plans to murder people.

A drunken jester? Murder? No good will come of it! Does the King know about this?

Yes, your Majesty. Now, the King is going to find Trinculo - in a drunken mess.

Your Majesty might care to listen?

Ooh yes, yes, I want to hear this, be quiet everybody.

How camest thou in this pickle?

I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last that, I fear me, will never out of my bones:

I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Hahaha! He's in a pickle! I like it, Will, very good, very good!

Most of the time if I'm in a pickle I'll call one of my brothers. They've usually got somewhat uplifting advice.

Ooh, you're in a pickle with those bags aren't you? Let me help.

Now Mr Shakespeare, sit down and eat with us. Have some cold meat!

Anything with that?

Hmmm. To pickle, or not to pickle: that is the question.