Where did the Expression ‘Break a Leg’ Come from?

This phrase is used to wish someone “good luck”. It comes from the theatre world.

It might seem odd, but directly wishing good luck to someone in the theatre world was considered bad luck. It was believed that evil spirits always jinx whatever you wish for and make the opposite happen. So, the seemingly nasty advice “break a leg” was a way to wish that the performer put on a great show and an impressive performance.

In other versions of the story, it is claimed that the “leg” in the phrase refers to the leg of the stage or the platform on which the artist performs. In that vein, “Break a leg” implies that the artist performs so well that the audience showers him with so many flowers, money, jewelry, and other articles of appreciation that the leg of the platform breaks under their weight.

Some other theories have also been proposed, which imply that this phrase originated from the appreciation shown by the audience. For example, in ancient Greece, the audience didn’t clap but stomped their feet on the ground to show appreciation. If they stomped too hard or stomped for a long time, they would break their leg.

In another theory, in Elizabethan times, the happy audience would bang their chairs to the ground — and if they liked the show enough, the leg of the chair would break.

No matter which story you believe, the phrase “break a leg” is a wish which means “good luck and perform well”.

I hope you found this story interesting. If you did, buy my full course on Udemy or watch it for free on Skillshare by signing up here. This course covers nearly 380 idioms with their origins and backstories.

Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.