Learn more in the cambridge englishchinese traditional dictionary. 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. May 05, 2010 a short movie my students made to teach the idiom break a leg using the software scratch. Break a leg is used in informal english when we wish someone good luck, especially before a performance. View american english definition of break a leg change your default dictionary to american english.
I told my friend to break a leg, before she went on stage. Definition and synonyms of break a leg from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. Add break a leg to one of your lists below, or create a new one. We usually say break a leg to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform, but it can be used as for other situations too. 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. Robson injured his leg in the second half of the match and had to be carried off. Break a leg is a typical english idiom used in theatre to wish a performer good luck. 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. 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. Change your default dictionary to american english. A short movie my students made to teach the idiom break a leg using the software scratch. 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.
How do i break it to my mother that i have infantile amnesia a. Because idioms dont always make sense literally, youll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. 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. There are some who argue that it originated when john wilkes booth broke his leg after assassinating president lincoln in fords theatre. Translation for break a leg in the free englishfrench dictionary and many other french translations. Good luck is the most common expression we say to someone when we hope that they will be successful. There are a large number of idioms and they are used very commonly in all languages. 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.
To wish a performer good luck might jinx him or her. Break a leg definition of break a leg by medical dictionary. Properly, the human leg is that portion of the extremity between the foot and the thigh. 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. This is used for a stage performeror for anyone else who is about to give some kind of a. Fracture one or more leg bones, as in she fell down the stairs and broke her leg in two places. Break a leg definition of break a leg by the free dictionary. It is a fixed phrase whose meaning cant be deduced from the meanings of the words. Our drama teacher acting teacher told us to break a leg. C smithsonian books in association with penguin books, 2004, isbn. Could break a leg refer to the incomparable actress renaissance woman who lost a leg to gangrene. English idioms, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday english. This is the british english definition of break a leg.
As our language has evolved some odd sayings have become commonly used, but where did they come from. Here is the entry from break a leg in robert hendrickson, the facts on file dictionary of word and phrase origins 1997. 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. Translation of break a leg englishmandarin chinese dictionary break a leg. At the end of the directors preshow speech, the cast hugged each other and said take care of. Break a leg right before i walked out on stage, my mother told me to break a leg.
Do you say break your leg with the same meaning as break a. A superstitious way to say good luck without saying good luck, but rather the opposite. Vennesa merrell said, break a leg, to david while he took it in a sad way. Break a leg definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. 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. While a break could indicate either upward or downward change, the connotation is negative. Break a leg definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Kaplan international is a leading provider of english courses and other study. Wikipedia, lexilogos, oxford, cambridge, chambers harrap, wordreference, collins lexibase dictionaries, merriam webster. 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. Break a leg meaning in the cambridge english dictionary.
Although she didnt break a leg on the stage, she did act and have a remarkable life on one leg. Break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds. You can complete the definition of break a leg given by the english definition dictionary with other english dictionaries. Tonights your first time acting in front of an audience isnt it. Idioms and phrases with their meaning and examples in pdf free download. In the theatre world, you must never say good luck, but break. 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. The term break a leg appears to come from the belief. 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. Especially on the futures market, a break means a steep decline in price, usually the result of a natural disaster affecting.
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. Idioms explained why do people say break a leg’ and. Take our quick quizzes to practise your vocabulary. You say it because the belief is that actually wishing somenody good luck will bring about bad luck. A to z list of idioms and phrases with their meanings break a leg. A common wish of luck said before a performance of some kind. 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. 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.
Download our english dictionary apps available for both ios and android. It is typically said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform. If you change a word, it is no longer that idiom, and needs to be interpreted like any other sentence. Probably accompanied by tears, hugs, and many fond memories.
Search break a leg and thousands of other words in english definition and synonym dictionary from reverso. An idioms symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. Definition of break a leg in the idioms dictionary. 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. A phrase of encouragement typically said to one who is about to perform before an audience, especially a theater actor.
Breaka leg in gary martin, the phrase finder, 1997. 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. Ingenious tales of words and their origins, washington, d. Top synonyms for break a leg other words for break a leg are best of luck, good luck and good fortune. Do you say break your leg with the same meaning as. 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. Top break a leg synonyms idioms only are good luck, may the force be with you and come on. Synonyms antonyms definitions examples parts of speech. At the end of the directors preshow speech, the cast hugged each other and said take care of me before performing.
Since a successful actor would break a leg onstage and receive applause, the phrase would, in effect, be a wish for good luck. Mar 03, 2017 theatre people are a superstitious lot. English only forum break a leg or an arm english only forum break a leg, break the nose articles usage. So as not to tempt fate before a performance, show people say, break a leg.
He rolled up his trouser legs and waded into the water. 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. An idiom s symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. A sudden, unexpected change in a securitys price or in a markets value. Break a leg definition and meaning collins dictionary.
This section of the human leg contains two long bones, the tibia and the fibula. 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 definition, to smash, split, or divide into parts violently. To interrupt the continuity in a tissue or electric circuit or the channel of flow or communication. The origin of this imperative to a performer about to go onstage is unclear. To break a leg, in shakespeares time, meant, literally, to bow by bending at the knee. Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes pyright1.
Oct 28, 2016 to find out more about kaplan international go to. They come up all the time in both written and spoken english. Why do people say break a leg and under the weather. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning idioms is fun, especially when you compare english idioms to the idioms in. Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day. 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. 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. Feb 02, 2020 break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds. 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.
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