Ancient Romans were usually bilingual in Latin and Greek, but Greek usage had declined by the Middle Ages. In these lines, Casca describes a speech that was deliberately given in Greek so not everyone could understand it. But those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. It is spoken by Casca:Ĭasca: Nay, an I tell you that, I’ll ne’er look you i’ th’ face again. William Shakespeare popularized this phrase in Act 1, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar, first performed in 1599. Current usage: To not comprehend something.
