A plague on both your houses

Definitions

• expressing anger or frustration towards two parties
  To express exasperation or disappointment towards two individuals or groups who are equally responsible for a negative situation or outcome

• wishing harm or misfortune upon someone or something
  To express a desire for bad things to happen to both parties involved in a conflict or disagreement

• emphasizing the severity or magnitude of a situation
  To convey the idea that a situation is extremely dire or disastrous, often used in a sarcastic or exaggerated manner

Examples of A plague on both your houses

• "I can't believe you both fought over such a trivial matter. A plague on both your houses!"

  This idiom is taken from Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" (Act 3, Scene 5). It is used to express strong disapproval or condemnation towards two parties involved in a dispute or conflict. The phrase "a plague on both your houses" is a figurative expression, meaning that both parties should be cursed with a terrible affliction or misfortune. In this example, the speaker is frustrated with both parties involved in the argument and wishes that they both suffer the consequences of their actions.

Conclusion

The idiom "a plague on both your houses" is typically used to express anger, frustration, or a desire for harm towards two parties involved in a negative situation. It can also be used to emphasize the severity of a situation in a sarcastic or exaggerated way.

This idiom is often used in a literary or dramatic context, and is derived from the famous line in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." In the play, Mercutio curses both the Capulet and Montague families for their ongoing feud, saying "a plague on both your houses."

The idiom has become a popular phrase in modern English, and is often used in everyday conversation to express frustration or disappointment towards multiple parties in a situation. It can also be used in a more serious manner to convey the gravity of a situation.

Origin of "A plague on both your houses"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the 16th century, when Shakespeare wrote his play "Romeo and Juliet." In the play, the two main families, the Capulets and the Montagues, are locked in a bitter feud. Mercutio, a friend of Romeo's who is killed in a fight with Tybalt, utters the now-famous phrase "a plague on both your houses" as a curse against the two families for their ongoing conflict.

The word "plague" in this context refers to a highly contagious and deadly disease, which emphasizes the speaker's desire for harm or destruction towards the two families. This phrase has since become a popular idiom, and is often used in various forms of media, such as books, movies, and TV shows, to convey a similar sentiment of anger or frustration towards two parties.