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A superstitious idiom used to wish performers or actors good luck before a show, as directly saying "good luck" is considered bad luck.
"The director called out "Break a leg, everyone!" just before the opening curtain rose."
"I know you are nervous about your big violin solo, but go out there and break a leg!"
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Grounds psychological states or physical commitment in human bodily anatomy ('leg').
Dating to early 20th-century theatrical superstitions, where wishing someone good fortune directly was thought to tempt mischievous spirits to bring disaster. Another theory references bending the knee or breaking the visual legline of the stage curtains to take an audience bow.
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