Break A Leg Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

This database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available. American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time. .

Break a leg What does Break a leg mean?	A wish of good luck, do well.	Break a leg in your game today. "Break a leg" is sourced in superstition. It is a wish of good luck, but the words wish just the opposite. It was once common for people to believe in Sprites. Sprites are actually spirits or ghosts that were believed to enjoy wreaking havoc and causing trouble. If the Sprites heard you ask for something, they were reputed to try to make the opposite happen. Telling someone to "break a leg" is an attempt to outsmart the Sprites and in fact make something good happen. Sort of a medieval reverse psychology.
break a leg What does break a leg mean?	good luck; hope all goes well (from theatrical slang, where "good luck" is a jinx)
	Some Random Idioms
fit in with (someone or something) What does "fit in with (someone or something)" mean?	to be comfortable or in harmony with someone or something	The new boy fits in with the other children very well.
on the bandwagon What does "on the bandwagon" mean?	to do or join something because many others are doing it	Everybody in our company is on the bandwagon to eliminate smoking in the workplace.
a hard nut to crack What does "a hard nut to crack" mean?	a person or thing not easily understood or influenced	He is a hard nut to crack and is not close to many people.
Three sheets in the wind What does "Three sheets in the wind" mean?	(UK) Someone who is three sheets in the wind is very drunk. ('Three sheets to the wind' is also used. 'Seven sheets' is an alternative number used.)
a dime a dozen What does "a dime a dozen" mean?	easy to get and therefore of little value	Used computers are a dime a dozen and have very little value.
strike a balance (between two or more things) What does "strike a balance (between two or more things)" mean?	to find a satisfactory compromise between two extremes	My father works hard to strike a balance between his family and his job.
hell-on-wheels What does "hell-on-wheels" mean?	a short-tempered/nagging/crabby person	She is hell-on-wheels in the morning so you should be careful of her.
All skin and bone What does "All skin and bone" mean?	If a person is very underweight, they are all skin and bone, or bones.
waltz off with (something) What does "waltz off with (something)" mean?	to take, get or win easily	My favorite team waltzed off with the championship last night.
Know a hawk from a handsaw What does "Know a hawk from a handsaw" mean?	If someone knows a hawk from a handsaw, they are able to distinguish things and assess them.
at the mercy of (the court/someone) What does "at the mercy of (the court/someone)" mean?	having no defense against the court/someone	My friend was at the mercy of the court when he went before the judge.

American Idioms and Expressions

Break A Leg Idiom