VOA一分钟英语 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.

Dont'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's really means "do well." Also, it can mean to work really hard at something.

And that's English in a Minute.