break a leg
good luck (said before a performance)
What it means
"Break a leg" is an English idiom that means "good luck," especially before a performance like a play, concert, or audition. The literal "bad luck" wording is used deliberately because in theater superstition, openly wishing luck is considered unlucky.
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Examples
- Break a leg tonight, I know your solo will be wonderful.
- The cast hugged and told each other to break a leg before curtain.
- Break a leg at your audition, you've practised so hard.
- She whispered 'break a leg' as he stepped onto the stage.
Where it comes from
A theatrical superstition, probably from the 20th century, that wishing 'good luck' directly invites misfortune, so performers say the opposite. Several origin theories exist, but the exact source is uncertain.
Related idioms
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