break a leg
Break a Leg
/breɪk ə lɛɡ/
Definition
The meaning: The phrase break a leg is a way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance or an important event.
La signification: L'expression break a leg est une façon de souhaiter bonne chance à quelqu'un, en particulier avant une performance ou un événement important.
Note: This idiom is widely used in the performing arts and originates from the superstition that directly wishing someone good luck might bring bad fortune, so an indirect expression is used instead.
Word Analysis
- In French
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- Bonne chance !
- Souhaiter du succès
- Encouragement avant une performance
- Être positif avant un événement important
- Synonyms
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- Good luck
- Best wishes
- Knock 'em dead
- All the best
Example: "The director told the cast to break a leg before the show began."
Example Dialogue
Lerato: "I heard your play is opening tonight. Are you nervous?"
Thabo: "A little, but everyone keeps telling me to break a leg!"
Lerato: "Don't worry, you’ll do great. Just remember, it's a good thing they say that!"
Etymology
Origin: The idiom "break a leg" originates from the world of theater, where it was considered bad luck to directly wish someone good luck. Instead, performers began using this phrase as a way to encourage success indirectly.
Some theories trace it back to 19th-century superstitions, while others suggest it may refer to actors bending (or "breaking") their knees in a bow after a successful performance. Despite its unclear exact origins, it remains a popular expression of encouragement, especially in performing arts.
Audience
The idiom "break a leg" is widely recognized, especially within the performing arts community, but is also understood in broader contexts. It appeals to audiences who enjoy idiomatic expressions and cultural traditions associated with superstition and encouragement.
When to use: Ideal for situations where you want to wish someone good luck in a performance, presentation, or any event requiring courage and skill. This phrase is particularly popular in theater, music, and public speaking circles.
Dictionary Meaning
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the idiom "break a leg" is an informal way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance or public appearance. Gary Martin says: "By wishing someone bad luck, it is supposed that the opposite will occur. Other superstitions are that it is bad luck to whistle in a theatre, to say the final line of a play during dress rehearsal, or to say the name of ‘the Scottish Play’ (Macbeth) in a theatre’s green room."
News Snippet
"Meryl Streep tells 'Death Becomes Her' successor Megan Hilty to 'break a leg or I'll break it for you,' quipped Streep in the note she sent alongside flowers ahead of the Broadway debut of 'Death Becomes Her.'
[thenews.com.pk]
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For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, the idiomatic phrase break a leg, watch the following videos.
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Common Idioms and Expressions
Knock 'em dead: A way of wishing someone success, particularly in a performance or competition.
Give it your all: Encouraging someone to put their maximum effort into what they’re about to do.
Best of luck: A general way of wishing someone success or good fortune.
Go get 'em: A motivational phrase that encourages someone to be successful in their endeavor.
You’ve got this: A phrase used to boost confidence and reassure someone of their abilities.
Show 'em what you've got: Encouraging someone to demonstrate their full potential or talents.
Smash it: Used to wish someone great success in a performance or effort.
Blow them away: Encouraging someone to impress others greatly with their performance.
Make it happen: A way of encouraging someone to take control of a situation and succeed.
Put on a show: Wishing someone success in a performance, often with the implication of entertaining or impressing others.
Don’t mess it up: A phrase telling someone not to make mistakes.
Stay calm and collected: Encouraging someone to remain composed and focused.
Take it easy: Wishing someone to avoid unnecessary stress or pressure.
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