break a leg (/breɪk ə lɛɡ/)
phrase · Intermediate · Greetings & Phrases
🔊 /breɪk ə lɛɡ/
Meaning
Meaning: good luck
A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Examples
🗣 You’ll be great on stage tonight — break a leg!
Etymology
A theatrical superstition; wishing ‘good luck’ directly was thought to bring bad luck.
How & Where It’s Used
Informal, used mainly before performances.
Literary Heritage
The phrase arose in 20th-century theatre tradition.
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Tags: idiom