hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
First written as "Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd." in the 1697 play The Mourning Bride (Act III Scene 2) by William Congreve. The "hath" is a hypercorrection based on false chronological assumption and perception that the saying is ancient, dating to at least the grammar of Early Modern English (which the time of writing would be at the end of); this is also reinforced by the phrase often being falsely attributed to Shakespeare or the King James Bible.
Pronunciation edit
- (UK) IPA(key): /hɛl hæθ nəʊ ˈfjʊəɹi laɪk ə ˈwʊmən skɔːnd/
- (US) IPA(key): /hɛl hæθ noʊ ˈfjʊɹi laɪk ə ˈwʊmən skɔɹnd/
Audio (US) (file)
Proverb edit
hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
Translations edit
a woman will make one suffer if hurt