Green-eyed monster

Origin

In Shakespeare's tragic play 'Othello', written in the early 17th century, the villainous Iago cunningly warns Othello about the dangers of jealousy, proclaiming it 'the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.' This potent image instantly resonated, painting jealousy as a ravenous, reptilian beast that not only consumes its victim but also revels in their torment. Shakespeare’s brilliant metaphor cemented the phrase in the English lexicon, forever linking the colour green to the insidious, self-devouring nature of envy.