Break A Leg

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Meaning:

Break A Leg is an encouragement to actors before they go on stage or in front of an audience as a way of saying good luck.

“Ooh, break a leg out there.”

Origin:

Theatre actors are well known for their belief in superstitions, one of them is, - do not to utter the words 'good luck' to an actor. - Instead, by wishing someone bad luck, it is supposed to be that the opposite will occur. The term 'break a leg' appears to come from that belief.

Before break a leg became a theatrical way of wishing someone good luck is was used to mean - make a strenuous effort- with many old records. Like “break a leg trying”

The earliest record of Break a leg in a theatrical way was in 1948 from a US newspaper The Charleston Gazette, in the 'Ask The Gazette' column, the question asked was:

Q. What are some of the well-known superstitions of the theatre?

A. Superstitions of the stage are numerous, and many are particular to individual actors and actresses. That it is bad luck to whistle in a dressing room is a widely accepted belief. Another is that one actor should not wish another good luck before a performance but say instead 'I hope you break a leg.'

Example:

We still use this phrase today, to wish an actor or actress good luck before going on stage. In a hope of a good performance, an example sentence is:

“Break a leg!” I shouted out to him before he rushed in for his auditions.”

Watch this on YouTube here - Luck Video - YouTube Video

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