Some actors used to be, and still are, very supertitious, Therefore, instead of saying ''Good luck'' (they thought they would jinx themselves if they did this) they would say ''Break a leg''. Though they really meant to say ''Good Luck''.
There is a superstition in the theatre, and other performing arts, that to wish someone "good luck" before a performance will bring bad luck! Instead, it is customary to say "break a leg!"
The 'leg' is part of the curtain that comes up and down after a finale. Extreme use of the 'leg' could cause it to break. When the audience carry on clapping and shouting after the finale in a show, the curtain comes back up and then down again, too much of this action could cause the 'leg' to break.
The expression "break a leg" means to do well at a show. The curtain itself is big so it is supported by different mechanics. These mechanics rest on "legs". At the end of a show, the actor comes out for an ovation (hopefully). The curtain opens and closes every time there's an ovation. So, saying break a leg means to have the audience keep clapping for ovations so much that the curtains legs will break.
Two other possibilities; The word 'break' has many meanings - the OED lists 57 distinct uses of it as a verb alone. That gives considerable scope for speculation over what is meant by the phrase. The most common interpretation of 'break' in this context is, 'to deviate from a straight line', as in the cricketing term, 'off break'. That is, unstraighten the leg by bending at the knee, by bowing or curtseying.
Or perhaps it comes from a German saying, 'Hals und Beinbruch', meaning 'break your neck and leg', which dates back to at least WWII, as Luftwaffe slang, and is therefore earlier than any known English version. It may be that this is a corruption of the Hebrew blessing, 'hatzlakha u-brakha', meaning 'success and blessing'.
The term break a leg is a way for theater members to wish each other good luck. They say this because the theater is a very superstitious place. This term has been used since ancient times and dates back to the Greek theater.
Ironic theatrical good luck formula break a leg has parallels in Ger. Hals und Bein brechen "break your neck and leg," and It. in bocca al lupo.
Yes it is an idiom.. "break a leg" means "good luck".... if you want to know just watch the movie of high school musical part one... :P
get a leg up on
It is just an idiom and has no history.
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Yes it is an idiom.. "break a leg" means "good luck".... if you want to know just watch the movie of high school musical part one... :P
"Break a leg" is said to actors before they go onstage. It means "good luck". Examples: As they were going on stage I told him to break a leg but he slipped and he did, now he won't talk to me any more. "You'll do great, Nick," said Jeff. "Break a leg,"
It's bad luck to wish a stage performer good luck, so you therefore wish him to break a leg.
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get a leg up on
I was just pulling your leg when I told you I won the lottery; it was just a joke to see your reaction.
This is not an idiom that I have ever heard. Perhaps you mean an arm AND a leg, which is an exaggerated way of saying something is really expensive.
Origin "up a storm"
No, because you have used the term incorrectly. The idiom is YOU'RE pulling my leg, as in YOU ARE doing it."I know you're just pulling my leg when you say you can fly."
No
No, "daddy long leg" is not an idiom. It refers to a type of arachnid with long, thin legs, also known as a harvestman.