Appendix:Snowclones/X, thy name is Y

English

Etymology

From Shakespeare's Hamlet, the quote "Frailty, thy name is woman!" (Act I, scene 2, line 146).

Phrase

X, thy name is Y

1. (snowclone) Used to say that something or somebody embodies a particular quality, usually a negative one. This phrase is said using this format: "X, thy name is Y", where X is the quality and Y is the person or thing with that quality.
   • 1998, "The Black Knight", Uncle Scrooge #314

     Scrooge McDuck: That fiend stole a bag out of the diamond vault!

     Donald Duck: Oh, no! Was it valuable?

     Scrooge McDuck: Yes! It contained diamond dust that a local diamond cutter let's^[sic] me sweep off his floor! It's worth nearly $100!

     [Donald was helping Scrooge to stand up, but Scrooge's last remark infuriates him. Donald leaves Scrooge on the ground.]

     Scrooge McDuck: Oh, sure! As soon as your poor old uncle suffers a grievous loss, you abandon him! Cruelty, thy name is Donald!