Break a leg definition and meaning collins dictionary. Break a leg definition and meaning collins english dictionary. You can complete the list of synonyms of break a leg given by the english thesaurus dictionary with other english dictionaries. If you say that something costs an arm and a leg, you mean that it is very expensive. Probably accompanied by tears, hugs, and many fond memories. S1 w1 noun 1 body part countable hb one of the long parts of your body that your feet are joined to, or a similar part on an animal or insect a young boy with skinny legs she fell and broke her leg. Break a leg, the show must go on, kick off, popcorn movie, sell out, get the show on the road, to run the show, its not over until the fat lady sings, a dog and pony show. Ive run into considerable debate over the origin of this one. A superstitious way to say good luck without saying good luck, but rather the opposite. Break a leg definition of break a leg by medical dictionary. Change your default dictionary to american english. With all the breakaleg dancing there are many who still warm to graceful soft shoe stepping. Definition of break a leg in the idioms dictionary.
I shouted out to him before he rushed in for his auditions. Break a leg is a wellknown idiom in theatre which means good luck. Leg definition, either of the two lower limbs of a biped, as a human being, or any of the paired limbs of an animal, arthropod, etc. Yourdictionary has lots more examples of different types of idioms. From longman dictionary of contemporary english break a leg break a leg spoken used to wish someone luck, especially just before they perform on stage. There are some who argue that it originated when john wilkes booth broke his leg after assassinating president lincoln in fords theatre. You can complete the definition of break a leg given by the english definition dictionary with other english dictionaries. Learn more in the cambridge englishchinese simplified dictionary. An ironic or nonliteral saying of uncertain origin a dead metaphor, break a leg is commonly said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform, likely first used in this context in the united states in the 1920s or 1930s, probably without specifically theatrical associations at first. C smithsonian books in association with penguin books, 2004, isbn. One of the lower or hind limbs in humans and other primates leg definition of leg by the free dictionary.
Browse our dictionary apps today and ensure you are never. This is used for a stage performeror for anyone else who is about to give some kind of a. English only forum break a leg or an arm english only forum break a leg, break the nose articles usage. This mom has been using the wrong idiom for break a leg and it has everyone screaming. Break a leg definition of break a leg by the free dictionary. Its books like these that give you a leg up where genetics let you down. Break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds. Greens dictionary of slang oup says to compare the english exclamation to the german one and has this as the earliest reference to break a leg. Definition and synonyms of break a leg from the online english dictionary from macmillan education this is the british english definition of break a leg. From time immemorial and going through the elizabethan theatre, different theories have been posed on the origin of the meaning of the expression break a leg, which has become a tradition.
Definition and synonyms of break a leg from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. Search break a leg and thousands of other words in english definition and synonym dictionary from reverso. As stated in to the inviting introduction, if we go out on a limb, it must be a piece of. Top synonyms for break a leg other words for break a leg are best of luck, good luck and may the force be with you. Why do people say break a leg and under the weather. From longman dictionary of contemporary english related topics. Illustrated throughout with informative howto and candid shots of young working actors, break a leg. One of the limbs or appendages that an animal uses for locomotion or support.
The expression break a leg has been common among actors since the early 1900s and presumably reflects a theatrical superstition in which wishing a person good luck is considered bad luck. The wilddog was what he was, a wilddog, cringing and sneaking, his ears for ever down, his tail for ever between his legs, for ever apprehending fresh misfortune and illtreatment to fall on him, for ever fearing and resentful, fending off threatened hurt with lips curling malignantly from his puppy fangs, cringing under a blow, squalling his fear and his pain, and ready always for a. As defined in linda and roger flavells book dictionary of idioms and their origins, to pull someones leg is an idiom that means to make someone the. With all the break a leg dancing there are many who still warm to graceful soft shoe stepping. To interrupt the continuity in a tissue or electric circuit or the channel of flow or communication. Common idioms using body parts are a witty way to get your point across and paint an. Do you say break your leg with the same meaning as. At the end of the directors preshow speech, the cast hugged each other and said take care of me before performing. When the team went out for the final race, the coach shouted out to them break a leg. I told my friend to break a leg, before she went on stage our drama teacher acting teacher told us to break a leg my daughter was very nervous about singing in. This mom has been using the wrong idiom for break a leg.
View american english definition of break a leg change your default dictionary to american english. Break a leg means good luck, but it is only said to someone who preforms on stage, such as a dancer, singer to say good luck. Definition of pulling my leg in the idioms dictionary. Among the many sayings for good luck, you can hear actors whisper neck and leg break to each other as the footlights dim and the curtain rises each. How do i break it to my mother that i have infantile amnesia a. Cost an arm and a lega small fortune cambridge dictionary. It is almost always said as an expression, break a leg. So if you know the brave storytellers signed up for the houston show give them a pat on the back and tell them to break a leg.
So it is possible that when an actor is told to break a leg, heshe may just be being exhorted to put on an energetic, exciting performance. The american heritage dictionary of idioms 0046442727747. A common wish of luck said before a performance of some kind. Break a leg is a typical english idiom used in theatre to wish a performer good luck. Definition of break a leg from the collins english dictionary. As our language has evolved some odd sayings have become commonly used, but where did they come from. As also is the fact that john wilkes booth, an actor, broke his leg after assassinating president lincoln in a theatre. If a story in the news has legs, it will continue for a long time. Legbreak definition, a ball deviating to the off side from the leg side when bowled. Break a leg meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. As with many theatrical superstitions, there are many imaginativeif unreliableback stories to explain the origin of the phrase. Any actor, musician or performer is used to hearing or saying break a leg right before a big performance. One of the limbs or appendages that an animal uses. Pull someones leg definition is to make someone believe something that is not.
This is the british english definition of break a leg. My favorite having understudied a few times is that it came from the understudies telling the primaries to break a leg enough times that it came to be considered bad luck if they didnt say it. Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day. Oct 02, 2017 break a leg, the show must go on, kick off, popcorn movie, sell out, get the show on the road, to run the show, its not over until the fat lady sings, a dog and pony show. Ingenious tales of words and their origins, washington, d. An ironic or non literal saying of uncertain origin a dead metaphor, break a leg is commonly said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform, likely first used in this context in the united states in the 1920s or 1930s, probably without specifically theatrical associations at first. To pull someones leg idiom of the week apto global speak.
Break a leg the kids guide to acting and stagecraft by. If you change a word, it is no longer that idiom, and needs to be interpreted like any other sentence. One favorite is that breaking a leg is an elegant metaphor for taking a bow or making a curtsey, i. An arm and a leg definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Check out our website for more free english lessons. This phrase has its origin in the world of theater. It is typically said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform. Revised edition revised edition by linda flavell isbn. At the end of the directors preshow speech, the cast hugged each other and said take care of. It is thought to be used due to the superstition that wishing one good luck will result in the opposite, but the exact origin of the. Translation for break a leg in the free englishfrench dictionary and many other french translations. Do you say break your leg with the same meaning as break a. Biology, food, furniture, clothes, football leg leg 1 le. Break a leg break a leg break a leg break a leg break a leg arm break a leg out there leg spinner, leg break, a googly, a flipper to break a leg break a leg outside theatre english only forum break a leg.
Break a leg break a leg break a leg break a leg break a leg arm break a leg out there legspinner, leg break, a googly, a flipper to break a leg break a leg outside theatre english only forum break a leg. Join dara as he shares common idioms that will help you speak english fluently. Means to wish someone good luck especially used among actors. It may seem barbaric to anyone unfamiliar with the term, but its only a way of saying good luck, albeit with a rather violent implication. Feb 02, 2020 break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds. Partridgedictionary of slang and unconventional english has to break a leg as to give birth to a bastard, dating from the seventeenth century, but that is probably unconnected. Leg break definition, a ball deviating to the off side from the leg side when bowled. This is used for a stage performeror for anyone else who is about to give some kind of a performance, such as an important speech. Partridge dictionary of slang and unconventional english has to break a leg as to give birth to a bastard, dating from the seventeenth century, but that is probably unconnected. Oct 05, 2015 learn english for free with free spirit english. It is a fixed phrase whose meaning cant be deduced from the meanings of the words. Wikipedia, lexilogos, oxford, cambridge, chambers harrap, wordreference, collins lexibase dictionaries, merriam webster. I wish you good luck on the completion of your book writing for publishing. Common idioms using body parts examples yourdictionary.