Break a leg is a way of wishing someone good luck. People say it to an actor, a musician or a speaker just before they go on stage or give an important talk, and it sounds playful and friendly. No special reply is needed: a simple Thanks! is enough.
When would you say break a leg?
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Break a leg!; Break a leg + tonight / at the audition; tell someone to break a leg
- Your band has practised for weeks, so break a leg at tonight's gig!
- Just before I went on stage for my first stand-up show, my friends whispered, 'Break a leg!'
- My daughter is in the school play tonight, and her teacher told her to break a leg.
What changed
First versionYour first concert is tonight? Break your leg!
RevisionYour first concert is tonight? Break a leg!
Break your leg sounds like a real wish for someone to break their leg, which is unkind. The fixed good-luck phrase uses the article: break a leg. Only one word was changed.
Break a leg is mainly for performances: a play, a concert, a talk. Before an exam or a job interview, people usually just say Good luck: Good luck with your exam tomorrow!
Your turn
Anna is about to go on stage at her first open mic night, so her flatmate hugs her and wishes her luck: '___!'
Show the answer
Break a leg — Anna's flatmate is wishing her luck before she goes on stage, and the fixed phrase for that is Break a leg. Break your leg sounds like a real wish that she gets hurt, so it is a mistake.
Write a short message to a friend who has a performance coming up. Say where and when it is, and wish them luck with this idiom.
Can't wait for your jazz concert at the student club at eight tonight. Break a leg!
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