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The meaning and origin of the expression: Shuffle off this mortal coil

Shuffle off this mortal coil

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Shuffle off this mortal coil'?

Die.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Shuffle off this mortal coil'?

From Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet, 1602:

"What dreames may come, When we haue shufflel'd off this mortall coile, Must giue vs pawse."

The meaning and origin of the phrase 'Shuffle off this mortal coil'In Shakespeare's time 'coil', or coile', or coyle', meant 'fuss' or 'bustle'. That usage was recorded in Michael Drayton's Idea, the shepheards garland, 1593:

"You Will, and Will not, what a coyle is here?"

Shakespeare also used it prior to his 'mortal coil' expression, in King John, 1595:

"I am not worth this coyle that's made for me."

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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