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Break a leg" is an English-language idiom used in the context of theatre or other performing arts to wish a performer "good luck". An ironic or non-literal saying of uncertain origin (a dead metaphor ), [ 1 ] "break a leg" is commonly said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform or before an audition .
Related: 'Time To Hit the Books!' 50 Common Idioms and What They Really Mean 'Break a Leg' Meaning. Despite sounding like something out of a medical drama, "break a leg" is actually a way to wish ...
In Australian theatrical circles saying "good luck" is also avoided, but the replacement is often "chookas!" This may be due to the belief among some dancers that saying "break a leg" may actually result in broken bones. According to one oral tradition, one of the company would check audience numbers.
The post Where Did the Phrase “Break a Leg” Come From? appeared first on Reader's Digest. Skip to main content. 24/7 Help. For premium support please call: 800-290 ...
An alternate operatic good luck charm originating from Italy is the phrase In bocca al lupo! (In the mouth of the wolf) with the response Crepi! or Crepi il lupo! (May it [the wolf] die!). Amongst actors "Break a leg" is the usual phrase, while for professional dancers the traditional saying is merde (French, meaning "shit").
Equivalent to the English actor's idiom "break a leg", the expression reflects a theatrical superstition in which wishing a person "good luck" is considered bad luck. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] The expression is commonly used in Italy off stage, as superstitions and customs travel through other professions and then into common use, and it can sometimes ...
For example, break a leg is an expression commonly said to wish a person good luck just prior to their giving a performance or presentation, which apparently wishes injury on them. However, the phrase likely comes from a loan translation from a phrase of German and Yiddish origin, which is why it makes no literal sense in English.
According to Pew Research, 3 in 5 users have taken a break from the platform as of March 2023, and Black users were especially more likely to take a break versus their white counterparts, taking a ...