Break a Leg

Welcome to English in a Minute, where we teach you all about idioms in American English.

You probably have heard someone say: Break a leg.

Don't worry. She isn't going to break someone's leg.

This is an expression that means good luck! Let's listen to a conversation to find out.

A: I'm so nervous. Tonight is the first night of the play.

B: Is it? Well, go out there and break a leg!

This phrase began as a way to wish actors good luck.

Theater people said that if they wished each other something bad, good might happen.

So when you hear "break a leg", it really means "do well".

Also, it can mean to work really hard at something.

And that's English in a Minute.

本文节选自《English in a Minute》，VOA的一个教学栏目，用一分钟的时间介绍一个美式俚语，语速适中，标准美语。