informal. : a very large amount of money. It’s a reliable car, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
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Where does the phrase an arm and a leg come from?
After the American Civil War, Congress enacted a special pension for soldiers who had lost both an arm and a leg. The phrase “cost an arm and a leg” begins to crop up in newspaper archives in 1901, referring to accidents and war injuries.
What does the phrase arm and leg mean?
Meaning of “An Arm and a Leg”
The phrase “an arm and a leg” means a considerable amount of money or something very expensive. Most often this phrase is used with the addition of the verb “cost” which points to the amount of money to be paid for something you purchase or for some service.
What does it mean when you tell someone to break a leg?
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.” No matter which version you choose to believe, well-wishes are always appreciated.
Is it cost an arm and a leg an idiom?
American Idiom: cost an arm and a leg
Cost an arm and a leg – means very expensive or too expensive.
What does upkeep cost an arm and a leg mean?
“Cost an arm and a leg” refers to a high cost, something astronomically expensive that is compared through this phrase, to give up an arm or a leg. “Cost an arm and a leg” is a popular idiom that is thought to have its origins sometime around World War II.
Why break a leg means good luck?
The term “break a leg” may be traced back to the Elizabethan language. To “break a leg”, in Shakespeare’s time, meant, literally, to bow- by bending at the knee. Since a successful actor would “break a leg” onstage and receive applause, the phrase would, in effect, be a wish for good luck.
Who first said break a leg?
the literal broken leg – One theatre legend comes from 18th-century actor David Garrick.
Is break a leg a metaphor?
“Break a leg” is a typical English 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), “break a leg” is commonly said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform or before an audition.
What does 2 peas in a pod mean?
Definition of two peas in a pod
—used to say that two people or things are very similar to each other My brother and I are two peas in a pod. We both like the same things.
What does it mean when someone says when pigs fly?
that something will never happen
Definition of when pigs fly
—used to say that one thinks that something will never happen The train station will be renovated when pigs fly.
What is the meaning of once in the blue moon?
something extremely rare in occurrence
Once in a blue moon: This poetic phrase refers to something extremely rare in occurrence. A blue moon is the term commonly used for a second full moon that occasionally appears in a single month of our solar-based calendars.
What is the meaning of the idiom back to square one?
Definition of go back to square one
: to start over His idea didn’t work, so he had to go back to square one.
How do you respond to break a leg?
Break a Leg Meaning
Saying Break a leg! to someone before an important event means you hope that he or she does well or has a great show. It is most common in the theatre, where actors say it to each other or family and friends say it to actors before taking the stage. The standard response to Break a leg! is Thanks!
What is another way to say good luck?
Ways To Say Good Luck
- May the force be with you!
- Godspeed, friend!
- May God bless you – because you deserve it.
- Everything will work out just fine, I am sure of it.
- Best wishes.
- Go, blow them away!
- All the very best to you.
- Live super long and prosper!
Where does shake a leg come from?
The origins of the phrase shake a leg are murky, though there are claims that the term comes from the American Civil War, when after a battle, stretcher-bearers would violently jostle a leg or arm to see if they could elicit a response from a victim on the field and thereby ascertain if he were alive or dead.
Is saying break a leg bad luck?
This is an expression used mostly in the world of theatre to mean ‘good luck‘. Actors and musicians are never wished ‘good luck’; before they walk on to the stage, they are usually told ‘break a leg’. This form of wishing people is beginning to be used in other contexts as well.
What does dont break a leg mean?
This saying serves as an expression of good luck wishes to an actor or actress before they go on stage for a performance. Of course, the intended message is opposite what the words imply: we do not actually wish for an actress to break her leg during a show.
Why do you not say good luck to an actor?
Why is it bad luck to say “good luck” to an actor? Some thespians believe there are theatre ghosts or fairies who like to cause mischief by making the opposite of what you want to have happen occur. Phrases like “break a leg” and “merde” are meant to confuse these theatrical pixies and defeat their obstinate ways.
What’s the meaning hold your horses?
idiom old-fashioned informal. used to tell someone to stop and consider carefully their decision or opinion about something: Just hold your horses, Bill!
How do you wish someone good luck before a performance?
Affirmation
- “Good luck with the presentation.
- “I know today won’t be easy, but I also know you’re up to the challenge.
- “Wishing you the very best luck…not that you need it.
- “Just a friendly reminder that I believe in you.”
- “Hope you’re feeling good and confident about today.
- “I predict a big win tomorrow.