A superstitious way to say good luck without saying good luck, but rather the opposite. To interrupt the continuity in a tissue or electric circuit or the channel of flow or communication. It is most common in the theatre, where actors say it to each other or family and friends say it to actors before taking the stage. 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. Kaplan international is a leading provider of english courses and other study.
Break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds. Robson injured his leg in the second half of the match and had to be carried off. May 05, 2010 a short movie my students made to teach the idiom break a leg using the software scratch. Ingenious tales of words and their origins, washington, d. The term break a leg appears to come from the belief. Break a leg new word suggestion this is a well known idiom in theatre which means good luck or try your best which is typically said to actors, actresses and musicians before they go on stage. 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.
Here is the entry from break a leg in robert hendrickson, the facts on file dictionary of word and phrase origins 1997. Why do people say break a leg and under the weather. Have good luck get up on the wrong side of the bed evan was so grumpy i knew he must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Take our quick quizzes to practise your vocabulary. It is a fixed phrase whose meaning cant be deduced from the meanings of the words. A phrase of encouragement typically said to one who is about to perform before an audience, especially a theater actor. View american english definition of break a leg change your default dictionary to american english. An idioms symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. If you change a word, it is no longer that idiom, and needs to be interpreted like any other sentence. Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day. Sometimes in france, before an exam or an important performance peple will say je te dis merde which literally means i tell you shit but its like saying break a leg in english. As our language has evolved some odd sayings have become commonly used, but where did they come from. 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 phrase is unknown.
Break a leg definition of break a leg by medical dictionary. Break definition, to smash, split, or divide into parts violently. Add break a leg to one of your lists below, or create a new one. Translation of break a leg englishmandarin chinese dictionary break a leg. Synonyms antonyms definitions examples parts of speech. Break a leg definition and meaning collins dictionary. This is used for a stage performeror for anyone else who is about to give some kind of a. It is typically said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform. Tonights your first time acting in front of an audience isnt it. The origin of this imperative to a performer about to go onstage is unclear. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning idioms is fun, especially when you compare english idioms to the idioms in. I told my friend to break a leg, before she went on stage. How do i break it to my mother that i have infantile amnesia a.
Definition and synonyms of break a leg from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. So as not to tempt fate before a performance, show people say, break a leg. 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. You can complete the definition of break a leg given by the english definition dictionary with other english dictionaries. 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. They come up all the time in both written and spoken english. Idioms and phrases with their meaning and examples in pdf free download. Idioms explained why do people say break a leg’ and. Break a leg is a typical english idiom used in theatre to wish a performer good luck. Theatrical types are well known for their belief in superstitions, or at least for their willingness to make a show of pretending to believe in them. In the theatre world, you must never say good luck, but break. Download our english dictionary apps available for both ios and android. Do you say break your leg with the same meaning as break a. 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.
An idiom is a phrase, saying or a group of words that has a metaphorical not literal meaning, which has become accepted in common usage. An idiom s symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. Break a leg is a wellknown idiom in theatre which means good luck. The term break a leg may be traced back to the elizabethan language. To break a leg, in shakespeares time, meant, literally, to bow by bending at the knee. To wish a performer good luck might jinx him or her. 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. A short movie my students made to teach the idiom break a leg using the software scratch. Good luck is the most common expression we say to someone when we hope that they will be successful. Mar 03, 2017 theatre people are a superstitious lot.
There are some who argue that it originated when john wilkes booth broke his leg after assassinating president lincoln in fords theatre. Top break a leg synonyms idioms only are good luck, may the force be with you and come on. 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 break. Vennesa merrell said, break a leg, to david while he took it in a sad way. Especially on the futures market, a break means a steep decline in price, usually the result of a natural disaster affecting. Since a successful actor would break a leg onstage and receive applause, the phrase would, in effect, be a wish for good luck. Learn more in the cambridge englishchinese traditional dictionary.
At the end of the directors preshow speech, the cast hugged each other and said take care of. Top synonyms for break a leg other words for break a leg are best of luck, good luck and good fortune. Our drama teacher acting teacher told us to break a leg. Break a leg definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. The phrase break a leg is a jovial encouragement, said to actors for good luck before they go on stage, especially on an opening night. He rolled up his trouser legs and waded into the water. Although she didnt break a leg on the stage, she did act and have a remarkable life on one leg.
A to z list of idioms and phrases with their meanings break a leg. English only forum break a leg or an arm english only forum break a leg, break the nose articles usage. Properly, the human leg is that portion of the extremity between the foot and the thigh. Definition of break a leg in the idioms dictionary. A common wish of luck said before a performance of some kind. This section of the human leg contains two long bones, the tibia and the fibula. Breaka leg in gary martin, the phrase finder, 1997. Could break a leg refer to the incomparable actress renaissance woman who lost a leg to gangrene. You say it because the belief is that actually wishing somenody good luck will bring about bad luck. Break a leg meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Break a leg right before i walked out on stage, my mother told me to 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. Feb 02, 2020 break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds.
Do you say break your leg with the same meaning as. 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. English idioms, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday english. 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. This is the british english definition of break a leg. Oct 28, 2016 to find out more about kaplan international go to. Break a code break a habit break a leg break a record break a story break away from something break bread with someone to break down to break someone of something to break the ice breaking news breaking ranks breaking wind breath of fresh air breathe a sigh of relief breathe ones last breath breeding will tell to breeze along brevity is the. Because idioms dont always make sense literally, youll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. Break a leg definition of break a leg by the free dictionary.
There are a large number of idioms and they are used very commonly in all languages. Be in a bad mood go out on a limb ill go out on a limb and say that our team will win the championships this year. Break a leg is used in informal english when we wish someone good luck, especially before a performance. At the end of the directors preshow speech, the cast hugged each other and said take care of me before performing. Change your default dictionary to american english. 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.
Search break a leg and thousands of other words in english definition and synonym dictionary from reverso. A sudden, unexpected change in a securitys price or in a markets value. Wikipedia, lexilogos, oxford, cambridge, chambers harrap, wordreference, collins lexibase dictionaries, merriam webster. Probably accompanied by tears, hugs, and many fond memories. While a break could indicate either upward or downward change, the connotation is negative. 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. C smithsonian books in association with penguin books, 2004, isbn.
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