If music be the food of love, play on

Definitions

• express the idea that music can sustain romantic feelings
  To suggest that music can fuel or sustain feelings of love and desire

• express the idea that music can exacerbate emotions
  To suggest that music can intensify or amplify feelings of love and desire

Examples of If music be the food of love, play on

• In order to cultivate feelings of love and affection between two people, it's essential to nurture and foster those emotions in the way that music nourishes the body. If music is considered to be the nourishment required to sustain and fuel love, then let's continue playing so that these sentiments can flourish.

  This idiom draws a parallel between the nurturing qualities of food and the necessary emotional sustenance that love requires. The expression "If music be the food of love" is a poetic way of describing the importance of music in bringing people together and fostering feelings of affection and intimacy. By comparing music to food, the speaker highlights the vital role that it plays in sustaining the growth and development of emotional connections between two individuals. It's an evocative way of emphasizing the transformative power of music and implies that, just as food nourishes the body, music can nourish the soul, fostering feelings of love, passion, and tenderness. By encouraging someone to "play on" in the presence of love, the speaker is urging them to continue playing music as a way of sustaining and inspiring those feelings.

• She closed her eyes and swayed to the music, lost in the melody. If music be the food of love, then this symphony was her sustenance.

  This is an example of using the idiom "if music be the food of love" to illustrate the deep connection the person has to music. It suggests that music has the power to evoke strong emotions, such as love, in a similar way that food nourishes the body. Here, the person's love for music is compared to a sustaining force that she cannot do without.

• The concert hall was filled with the sweet strains of the violin, and the pianist played with such passion that it seemed as though he were declaring his love through the notes. If music be the food of love, then this performance was a feast for the senses.

  Another example of using the idiom, here it is used to illustrate the powerful emotions that can be evoked by music. It suggests that music, like love, can be expressed in a multitude of ways, and that some performances can be so moving that they almost become a form of declaration. The phrase "feast for the senses" is used to highlight the multi-dimensional nature of the experience, suggesting that the music not only feeds the soul but also the senses.

• The DJ spun the turntables, causing the sound system to rattle and the bass to throb. If music be the food of love, then this beat was a feast for the heart.

  This example uses the idiom to illustrate the way that music can cause strong emotional responses. It suggests that music has the power to stir the soul in a similar way to the way that food can nourish the body. Here, the person is saying that this beat, with all its power and intensity, is a feast for the heart, a description that highlights the emotional depth that music can inspire.

• The opera singer's voice soared high above the orchestra, and the solo violinist played a melody so sweet that it almost seemed to be sung by an angel. If music be the food of love, then this performance was a banquet for the soul.

  This example again uses the idiom to illustrate the emotional power of music. The phrase "banquet for the soul" is used to suggest that music, like food, can be an almost overwhelmingly rich and satisfying experience. Here, the person is saying that this performance, with its soaring voices and sweet melodies, is a complete and nourishing feast for the soul. The phrase "sung by an angel" is used to suggest that the music is so beautiful and otherworldly that it almost seems to be a divine gift.

Conclusion

The idiom "If music be the food of love, play on" expresses the idea that music can either sustain or exacerbate feelings of love and desire. It can be used to suggest that music has the power to fuel or intensify romantic emotions.

Origin of "If music be the food of love, play on"

The idiom "If music be the food of love, play on" is a line from William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night." It is spoken by the character Duke Orsino, who is lamenting about his unrequited love for the lady Olivia. The Duke compares his emotions to hunger and suggests that if music can sustain love, then it should continue to play.

The origin of the idiom can be traced back to the 17th century when the play was written. It has since become a well-known phrase that is used to convey the idea that music has the power to influence emotions, particularly those related to love and desire. The idiom is often used in a poetic or romantic context to evoke the idea of music as a source of emotional sustenance or intensity.