What is the meaning of the phrase ‘words are but wind’?
Words are not tangible, they are not firm and they cannot be relied upon.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘words are but wind’?
The phrase ‘words are but wind’ first appears in the play ‘The Comedy of Errors’, and was written by English’s primary wordsmith, William Shakespear, in the 1590s.
It occurs in Act 3, Scene 1, when Dromio of Ephesus says:
“A man may break a word with you, sir, and words are but wind.
Ay, and break it in your face, so he break not behind’
Here, Shakespeare’s character is saying that words mean little. If someone makes a vow or promise only verbally, then it’s not tangible. There is no real commitment to follow through, words are but wind. Words cannot be seen, and for this reason, people should focus on actions rather than words.
It suggests that as powerful as prose can often be, words, like the wind, are unsteady and unreliable. You cannot hold on to someone’s words, they blow away in the wind.
It’s ironic that Shakespeare makes this comparison, given that he made his living with words.
The phrase is still in use to this day, and it usually carries the same meaning. The phrase also conveys the sentiment that words are cheap.
The words ‘words are but wind’ are often used in political commentary, such as when a politician promises they will do something, but people don’t believe they will follow through on their promise.
The phrase is also used in religious texts and sermons to encourage followers to do good deeds.
What are some notable uses of the phrase ‘words are but wind’?
In addition to Shakespear’s aforementioned use of the phrase, the phrase also appears in the classic novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes published in the 1600s, where he can be quoted as saying ‘Words are but wind, and seeing is believing.’
