The idiom ‘break a leg' means ‘good luck’. This video explains the meaning of the idiom 'break a leg' in English. We explain how to use it with some easy examples for Social and Business English.
This idiom is mainly used in the world of Performing Arts. Before a performer goes on stage, it’s in good spirits when someone wishes them to ‘break a leg’. If someone says ‘good luck’, usually the person that wished the performer ‘good luck' wants the opposite for them. This idiom can be commonly heard in both social and professional environments.
Further Examples:
The director shouted ‘break a leg’ at the actors before he shouted ‘action’.
The poet submitted his book of poems to the publisher, but not before his wife told him to ‘break a leg’.