green-eyed monster

noun

1. jealousy:

   Othello fell under the sway of the green-eyed monster.

Word History and Origins

Origin of green-eyed monster¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Idioms and Phrases

Jealousy, as in Bella knew that her husband sometimes succumbed to the green-eyed monster . This expression was coined by Shakespeare in Othello (3:3), where Iago says: “O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” It is thought to allude to cats, often green-eyed, who tease their prey. Also see green with envy .

Example Sentences

Othello was warned to stay away from the ‘green-eyed monster.’

From The Daily Beast

It is the green-eyed monster which never did and never will improve each shining hour, but quite the reverse.

From Project Gutenberg

Beware of jealousy; "it is the green-eyed monster, which doth make the meat it feeds on."

From Project Gutenberg

No, nor even with the green-eyed monster Jealousy her unscrupulous effrontery had not hesitated to impute.

From Project Gutenberg

All sorts of things seem to conspire to feed "the green-eyed monster" into a state of fatness.

From Project Gutenberg

Ah, sweet wife, never let the green-eyed monster trouble the peace of your heart!

From Project Gutenberg