WebThe most common interpretation of 'break' in this context is 'to deviate from a straight line', as in the cricketing term 'off break', to unstraighten the leg by bending at the knee, by bowing or curtsying. 'Break a leg' also means … WebAug 7, 2024 · To break (something) out (1890s) probably is an image from dock work, of freeing cargo before unloading it. The ironic theatrical good luck formula break a leg (by 1948, said to be from at least 1920s) has parallels in German Hals- und Beinbruch "break your neck and leg," and Italian in bocca al lupo .

The Origin of "break a leg!" - Straight Dope …

WebAug 10, 2006 · The German expression might have originated with air force pilots, as an alternative to "don't crash and die." That's the best the word nerds can do for you. Don't blame me, blame them. That's my ... WebDec 29, 2024 · Nobody knows exactly when or how the saying "break a leg" came about, but there are a few leading theories. First, involving the 20th century American theater, is … generac pressure washer owners manual

Why Do Performers Say

WebEver wondered why we say "Break a leg"? Here's the origin story!SITE: http://www.funk-e.comFACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/funkeanimationsTWITTER: http:... WebI've heard a story that this is related to the 'curtain control' being called the leg. It used to be a lever that drew/opened the curtains. "Breaking a leg" meant that the audience … "Break a leg" is a typical English idiom used in the context of theatre or other performing arts to wish a performer "good luck". An ironic or non-literal saying of uncertain origin (a dead metaphor), "break a leg" is commonly said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform or before an … See more Yiddish-German pun theory Most commonly favored as a credible theory by etymologists and other scholars, the term was possibly a loan translation from the German phrase Hals- und Beinbruch, … See more Professional dancers do not wish each other good luck by saying "break a leg;" instead they say "Merde!", the French word for "shit". In turn, theater people have picked up this … See more • Knocking on wood • Spilling water for luck • The Scottish play See more The aforementioned theory regarding Hals- und Beinbruch, a German saying via Yiddish origins, suggests that the term transferred from … See more There is an older, likely unrelated meaning of "break a leg" going back to the 17th and 18th centuries that refers to having "a bastard / natural child." See more The 2001 Broadway musical comedy The Producers features a song titled "It's Bad Luck To Say 'Good Luck' On Opening Night," in which the novice producer Leo Bloom is instructed that the proper way to wish someone good luck on Broadway is to say "Break a … See more • Break a Leg – Glossary of Technical Theatre Terms (With many explanations as to the origins of the term) • Break a Leg, and Other Good Wishes See more deadpool birthday party