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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 4Scene 5
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"iron wit"
Language
Act 4,
Scene 5
Lines 117-120

An explanation of the phrase “iron wit” in Act 4, Scene 5 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Second Musician

Pray you, put up your dagger, and put out your wit.

Peter

Then have at you with my wit.
I will dry-beat you with an iron wit,
and put up my iron dagger. Answer me like men.

Peter is threatening to thrash the musicians with his strong wit. But an iron wit is a dull and senseless one, so really he is threatening to fight them with his own stupidity.