An idiom s symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. Top synonyms for break a leg other words for break a leg are best of luck, good luck and good fortune. 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 the standard response to break a leg. Oct 05, 2015 learn english for free with free spirit english. Learn the meaning of popular english phrases and expressions with example. The word blessing was translated to hebrew brakha which was transliterated to hebrew ber. How do i break it to my mother that i have infantile amnesia a.
A friend urged him to call odonnell and walsh right said. Ingenious tales of words and their origins, washington, d. Dannys family told him to break a leg right before he went up on stage. The origins of break a leg, a phrase used to wish someone good luck, can actually be traced back to british theatres in the 1920s, although its not exactly certain how the phrase came about. Break a leg definition of break a leg by the free dictionary. So as not to tempt fate before a performance, show people say, break a leg. 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. Translation for break a leg in the free englishfrench dictionary and many other french translations. This is the british english definition of break a leg. Especially on the futures market, a break means a steep decline in price, usually the result of a natural disaster affecting the underlying. 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 englishspanish dictionary granada university, spain, 14. Break a leg meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Break a leg is a typical english idiom used in theatre to wish a performer good luck.
Break a leg 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. To break the leg or break a leg is archaic slang for bowing or curtsying. Leg breaks article about leg breaks by the free dictionary. It is typically said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform. A place in a file of records where one or more of the values in the records. Definition of break a leg new word suggestion collins. Wikipedia, lexilogos, oxford, cambridge, chambers harrap, wordreference, collins lexibase dictionaries, merriam webster. 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 exercises vocabulary exercises help you to learn synonyms, collocations and idioms. A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements, as in keep tabs on. Break a leg is used in informal english when we wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Break a leg is a wellknown idiom in theatre which means good luck. 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. The idiom break a leg is usually used in theater to wish good luck to actors before they go up on stage. Could break a leg refer to the incomparable actress renaissance woman who lost a leg to gangrene. 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.
The term break a leg appears to come from the belief. The specific grammatical, syntactic, and structural character of a given language. Vennesa merrell said, break a leg, to david while he took it in a sad way. Definition and synonyms of break a leg from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. A sudden, unexpected change in a securitys price or in a markets value. While a break could indicate either upward or downward change, the connotation is negative. A to z list of idioms and phrases with their meanings break a leg. C smithsonian books in association with penguin books, 2004, isbn.
You can complete the definition of break a leg given by the english definition dictionary with other english dictionaries. 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. 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. Less frequently, break refers to a discrepancy in a brokerages accounting books. To interrupt the continuity in a tissue or electric circuit or the channel of flow or communication. List if idioms a to z with examples and meanings english phrases. Although she didnt break a leg on the stage, she did act and have a remarkable life on one leg.
Feb 02, 2020 break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds. Download our english dictionary apps available for both ios and android. Idioms and phrases with their meaning and examples in pdf free download. Because for example in russian there is a common idiom with the same meaning which break a leg as a way to wish 28112014 what you tell someone about to perform in a drama or musical performance to wish them well.
Wellwishers typically say break a leg to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform. Break a leg in michael quinion, ballyhoo, buckaroo, and spuds. Legbreak definition, a ball deviating to the off side from the leg side when bowled. A place in a file of records where one or more of the values in the records change. Break a leg definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Definition of break ones back collins english dictionary. English only forum break a leg or an arm english only forum break a leg, break the nose. In theatre, pleased audiences may applaud for an extended time allowing the cast to take multiple curtain calls, bowing to the audience. Search break a leg and thousands of other words in english definition and synonym dictionary from reverso. 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.
Good luck is the most common expression we say to someone. 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. Break a leg definition of break a leg by medical 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. He said he was a racing fan and that hed suffered a pretty bad leg break.
View american english definition of break a leg change your default dictionary to american english. Good luck is the most common expression we say to someone when we hope that they will be successful. What you tell someone about to perform in a drama or musical performance to wish them well. A common wish of luck said before a performance of some kind saying break a leg. Oct 28, 2016 to find out more about kaplan international go to. Break a leg is an idiom in theatre used to wish a performer good luck in an ironic way. Here is the entry from break a leg in robert hendrickson, the facts on file dictionary of word and phrase origins 1997. One of the more common idioms in the english language is, break a leg. Break a leg definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently. Definition of break a leg in the idioms dictionary. As with many theatrical superstitions, there are many imaginativeif unreliableback stories to explain the origin of the phrase.
No one is sure, but one theory has the expression deriving, possibly through yiddish, from a german. There is an older meaning of break a leg going back to the 17th and 18th century that refers to having. 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. To wish a performer good luck might jinx him or her. 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. An idioms symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. Mar 03, 2017 theatre people are a superstitious lot. To interrupt the continuity in a tissue or electric circuit or the channel of flow or. Break a leg break a leg 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. Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day. Odonnell got a gee up to aid recovery sadly, this season appears to be no different with byron anthonys leg break during the otherwise successful newport county game at brighton in the league cup. You can complete the list of synonyms of break a leg given by the english thesaurus dictionary with other english dictionaries.
Break a leg article about break a leg by the free dictionary. Especially on the futures market, a break means a steep decline in price, usually the result of a natural disaster affecting. 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. One favorite is that breaking a leg is an elegant metaphor for taking a bow or making a curtsey, i. The minimum distance in a circuitopening device between the stationary and movable contacts when these contacts are in the open. Vocabulary exercises help you to learn synonyms, collocations and idioms. Leg break definition, a ball deviating to the off side from the leg side when bowled.
807 275 560 376 1290 416 1158 440 819 1153 464 272 337 1529 751 1029 1017 361 930 257 466 1381 1494 1115 741 924 446 1042 129 375 140 521 336 1480 26 696 62 708 847 837 810