Break a leg

Meaning
This idiom is a theatrical superstition used to wish performers good luck by paradoxically wishing them harm, as if saying ‘good luck’ brings bad fortune. It conveys encouragement or camaraderie, primarily used in entertainment or performance contexts to boost morale. The phrase carries a tone of humor, tradition, or irony, reflecting cultural values of superstition and the human tendency to defy fate. Its imagery of injury evokes a playful contradiction, resonating in scenarios like plays or presentations. The idiom fosters support, making it a quirky metaphor for wishing success.
Origin
The phrase likely originated in early 20th-century American theater, possibly tied to Yiddish or vaudeville slang, with ‘breaking a leg’ meaning to bow (curtsy) or earn applause, as noted in theater memoirs. Its earliest recorded use appears in *Variety* (1920s), for actors. The idiom gained traction in the 1940s, amplified by Broadway and films, notably in *42nd Street* (1933). Its adoption, primarily in the U.S., stems from its theatrical charm and superstitious appeal, with use in the U.K. and Australia.
Variants
  • Break a leg
  • Break your leg
  • Break a leg out there
Examples
  • Break a leg in your audition tonight!
  • Break your leg, she whispered, before the curtain rose.
  • Break a leg out there, the director cheered.
  • They shouted break a leg as he stepped on stage.
  • Break a leg, he said, wishing her luck for the speech.