Question

Break a Leg good luck; do a great job in the show

Accepted Answer

On the night of the play, Holly's father told her to break a leg. Saying this to a performer before a show has long been a theatrical tradition. It comes from an old German saying, Hals- und Beinbruch (break your neck and leg), and was shortened to just the leg. Perhaps it exists because of an old show business superstition that wishing someone good luck might cause just the opposite to happen, so you wish the performer bad luck to assure the opposite of that.

Idiom	Break a Leg
Example	On the night of the play, Holly's father told her to break a leg.
Meaning	good luck; do a great job in the show
Origin	Saying this to a performer before a show has long been a theatrical tradition. It comes from an old German saying, Hals- und Beinbruch (break your neck and leg), and was shortened to just the leg. Perhaps it exists because of an old show business superstition that wishing someone good luck might cause just the opposite to happen, so you wish the performer bad luck to assure the opposite of that.

Show Break Leg Good Performer Luck Opposite Night