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OP "Break a leg!" One says this to actors (and other performers) before they go on stage, by way of wishing them success, especially on opening nights. But where does the expression come from and why is it used in this way? There may be some connection with the Dutch phrase "hals en been breken" (break a neck and a leg) and with a similar one in German, but this still doesn't explain anything. I've also heard it mooted that this colorful figure of speech derives from John Wilkes Booth having leapt from the presidential box and broken his leg after assassinating Lincoln. But why? Because he succeeded in his appointed task, at a play?
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted break a leg Eddie 03/19/02 01:40 PM Re: break a leg wwh 03/19/02 01:55 PM Re: break a leg belligerentyouth 03/19/02 02:10 PM Re: break a leg AnnaStrophic 03/19/02 02:22 PM Re: break a leg boronia 03/19/02 02:43 PM Re: break a leg wwh 03/19/02 02:49 PM Re: break a leg WhitmanO'Neill 03/19/02 03:06 PM Re: break a leg boronia 03/19/02 03:42 PM Re: break a leg WhitmanO'Neill 03/19/02 03:44 PM Re: break a leg WhitmanO'Neill 03/19/02 03:52 PM Re: break a leg hev 03/20/02 12:11 AM Re: break a leg WhitmanO'Neill 03/20/02 02:27 AM Re: break a leg Abagogo 03/19/02 04:17 PM Mooted Jackie 03/20/02 12:03 AM Re: moot point hev 03/20/02 12:31 AM Re: moot point wofahulicodoc 03/20/02 01:43 AM Re: moot point Keiva 03/20/02 09:33 PM Re: Mooted Eddie 03/21/02 10:34 AM Re: Mooted boronia 03/21/02 05:17 PM Re: Mooted Capital Kiwi 03/21/02 09:40 PM Re: break a leg Flatlander 03/20/02 12:38 PM Re: break a leg modestgoddess 03/20/02 08:40 PM
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