What does the phrase break a leg mean ?

Question

What does the phrase break a leg mean ?

Answer 1

good luck

Answer 2

It means 'Good Luck'

Answer 3

it means good luck. mostly used in plays and stuff because they say saying good luck is bad luck so they say break a leg instead.

Answer 4

go and have fun and try your best

Answer 5

as surprising as it may sound, larry is correct. it means good luck. although i could never understand how breaking a leg could mean that. haha

Answer 6

good luck in thearters

Answer 7

It is used by actors and those involved in theatre to mean 'good luck' as ironically it was seen as bad luck to say the words 'good luck'.

Answer 8

It came from dancers on stage in front of the stage there is what is called in America the pit the musician are in the pit down out of sight If the dancers got too excited they would dance off the stage and fall off stage down about 10 feet into the pit  i e break a leg or put every thing you have into it

Answer 9

Used in the theatre a lot before a show

it means 'good luck'

Answer 10

This comes from many years ago when an actor was wished good luck by the chap who raised and lowered the curtain, before he went on stage.

The actor had the worst performance of his life, he forgot his lines, made the wrong movements and had a prop fall on him, knocking him out and breaking his leg.

It was then considered bad luck to wish an actor good luck, so now they say "Break a leg".

Answer 11

"Break a leg" is a well-known saying in theatre which means "good luck". It is typically said to actors before they go out onto stage to perform.

The expression reflects a theatrical superstition in which wishing a person "good luck" is considered bad luck. The expression is sometimes used outside the theatre as superstitions and customs travel through other professions and then into common use.

There are several hypotheses about the origin of the expression, none of which have been proven. All are heavily debated. The theories listed below are some of the more popular explanations.

The earliest known example in print refers to the title of a play from 1957. Naturally, the saying is much older for it to have been borrowed for a title and there is anecdotal evidence from theatrical memoirs and personal letters as early as the 1920s.

Answer 12

That phrase usually means good luck.

Answer 13

It means work hard. Example: If u are about to present  in a program, someone'll say " Break A Leg" that means to practice for the program.

Really hoped I helped!  

Answer 14

"Break a leg" is a well-known saying in theatre which means "good luck". It is typically said to actors before they go out onto stage to perform.

The expression reflects a theatrical superstition in which wishing a person "good luck" is considered bad luck. The expression is sometimes used outside the theatre as superstitions and customs travel through other professions and then into common use.

Answer 15

they use this phrase in show business, it means; good luck, try your best, have fun e.t.c

Answer 16

Lol, it means to "hurry up", "get a move on".

Answer 17

it means good luck, actors use it.

Answer 18

It means Good Luck in show biz.

Actors use it because whenever someone says good luck something bad happens so imagine what saying bad luck would do.

Answer 19

"Good Luck." I once said "Break a leg" to a friend who was going ice climbing in Norway. Guess what happened?

Answer 20

Good luck...