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"Break a leg" is an English-language idiom used in the context of theatre or other performing arts to wish a performer "good luck".An ironic or non-literal saying of uncertain origin (a dead metaphor), [1] "break a leg" is commonly said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform or before an audition.
The phrase could also come from the idea of race horses "breaking their legs" (AKA how they're standing) at the starting line, which some riders believed was good luck and would lead to a good race.
It is similar in usage to the word "congratulations!" and conveys roughly, "I am pleased this good thing has happened to you!". [7] A common Hebrew phrase for wishing "good luck" is b'hatzlacha (בהצלחה), literally meaning "with success". [8] Throughout the Jewish world, including the diaspora, "mazel tov!"
An alternate operatic good luck charm originating from Italy is the phrase In bocca al lupo! (In the mouth of the wolf) with the response Crepi! or Crepi il lupo! (May it [the wolf] die!). Amongst actors "Break a leg" is the usual phrase, while for professional dancers the traditional saying is merde (French, meaning "shit").
In America, it is considered bad luck to wish someone "good luck" in a theatre. Prior to performances, it is traditional for the cast to gather together to avert the bad luck by wishing each other bad luck or cursing, the expression "break a leg" replaces the phrase "good luck".
In bocca al lupo (pronounced [im ˈbokka al ˈluːpo]; lit. "into the wolf's mouth") is an Italian idiom originally used in opera and theatre to wish a performer good luck prior to a performance. The standard response is crepi il lupo! (IPA: [ˈkrɛːpi il ˈluːpo]; "may the wolf die") or, more commonly, simply crepi! ("may it die"). [1]
Every ill-luck is good for something in a wise man's hand. Every medal has its dark side. Every tide has its ebb. No great loss without some small gain; It is an ill wind that blows no one good. Nothing is so bad in which there is not something good. In most of these proverbs, the hopeful perspective points 'in the direction of good luck'.
An idiom is a common word or phrase with a figurative, non-literal meaning that is understood culturally and differs from what its composite words' denotations would suggest; i.e. the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words (although some idioms do retain their literal meanings – see the example "kick the bucket" below).