Break a leg
/breΙͺk Ι leΙ‘/informal, humorousUK Β· US
What does βBreak a legβ mean?
Break a leg means a way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Despite how it sounds, "break a leg" has nothing to do with injury. It is a superstitious substitute for "good luck", used mainly in theatre, music and other performance settings, and now more broadly before any high-pressure moment.
It is warm and slightly playful. You would say it to a friend before an audition, not to a client before a board meeting, in formal writing, "good luck" or "all the best" is safer.
When do people say it?
Said to someone just before they go on stage, into an audition, an exam or an interview.
βBreak a leg tonight, you've rehearsed this a hundred times.β
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal, humorous. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
Widely used in theatre from the early twentieth century, where wishing someone 'good luck' was thought to invite bad luck. Several competing explanations exist and none is settled.
Origin confidence: Reasonably documented
How do you say βBreak a legβ in other languages?
Related idioms
- Go the extra mile, To make an extra effort.
- Get cold feet, To become nervous and back out.
Last reviewed 2026-09-11