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The meaning and origin of the expression: Make haste

Make haste

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Make haste'?

Act quickly.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Make haste'?

This is an old phrase and is first found in the works of Martin Luther. Miles Coverdale's translation of A very excellent and swete exposition upon the two and twentye Psalme of David, 1537, includes the line:

"Make haist (o Lorde) to helpe me."

Shakespeare later used it in King John, 1595 (and in several other plays):

KING JOHN:
Nay, but make haste; the better foot before.
O, let me have no subject enemies,
When adverse foreigners affright my towns
With dreadful pomp of stout invasion!
Be Mercury, set feathers to thy heels,
And fly like thought from them to me again.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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