Do you say break a leg to musicians?
Do you say break a leg to musicians?
An ironic or non-literal saying of uncertain origin (a dead metaphor), “break a leg” is commonly said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform, likely first used in this context in the United States in the 1930s or possibly 1920s, originally documented without specifically theatrical associations.
Why do performers say break a leg?
If actors were not performing, they had to stay behind the “leg line,” which also meant they wouldn’t get paid. If you were to tell the actor to “break a leg,” you were wishing them the opportunity to perform and get paid. The sentiment remains the same today; the term means “good luck, give a good performance.”
How do you wish someone good luck before a performance?
May the force be with you, I hope you make it there safely! Used in much the same way as “knock them dead”, this phrase is often used to wish someone good luck before taking part in a performance or act of some sort.
What is the meaning of put his foot down?
to use your authority to stop something from happening: When she started borrowing my clothes without asking, I had to put my foot down.
What does it mean to be sitting on top of the world?
If you say that you feel on top of the world, you are emphasizing that you feel extremely happy and healthy. [emphasis] Two months before she gave birth to Jason she left work feeling on top of the world. Synonyms: overjoyed, happy, ecstatic, elated More Synonyms of on top of the world.
Why do they say never look a gift horse in the mouth?
The reason is because a horse’s age can be determined by inspecting its teeth. Basically, the longer the teeth, the older the horse. Thus, looking a gift horse in the mouth could be considered rude because the person is essentially examining the horse to see how old it is—it might so old that they don’t even want it.
What does you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth mean?
: to look in a critical way at something that has been given to one I noticed the guitar wasn’t made of real wood, but I didn’t say anything because you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
What does it mean to be long in the tooth?
Getting on in years, old, as in Aunt Aggie’s a little long in the tooth to be helping us move. This expression alludes to a horse’s gums receding with age and making the teeth appear longer. [ Mid-1800s]
What does nip it in the bud mean?
Correct Idiom: Nip it in the Bud A flower that is “nipped in the bud” wouldn’t grow and blossom. This phrase is often used to suggest that by handling a something when it’s a minor problem, you’ll be able to avert a crisis.
What does the proof is in the pudding mean?
BEN ZIMMER: Well, the proof is in the pudding is a new twist on a very old proverb. The original version is the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And what it meant was that you had to try out food in order to know whether it was good. In Britain, dating back centuries, pudding meant more than a sweet dessert.
What does bells and whistles mean?
: items or features that are useful or decorative but not essential : frills.