How do you say break a leg to a dancer?
Since telling dancers to “break a leg” is, well, kind of creepy, we say, “Merde”. Note: as with most other backstage traditions (“Why is the lounge called the ‘green room’?,” for example) there are many, often contradictory, explanations and many people will ardently insist that theirs is the correct one…
What can I say instead of a broken leg?
What is another word for break a leg?
| all the best | best of British |
|---|---|
| take care | lots of luck |
| lotsa luck | God be with you |
| Godspeed | come on |
| MTFBWY | may the Force be with you |
Why do they say break a leg in theatre?
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 break a leg mean in dance?
good luck
“Break a leg” is a typical English idiom used in the context of theatre or other performing arts to wish a performer “good luck”.
Why do dancers say Toi Toi Toi?
In Germany, however, Lukens remembers that “toi toi toi” was customary, while in Italy, they said “in bocca al lupo.””Toi toi toi” is a phrase of German and Yiddish origin, meant to emulate spitting in order to ward off evil spirits.
What is the meaning of Toi Toi Toi?
This week: Toi Toi Toi. Spitting may not be a nice thing to, but a vocal imitation of this act is the German way of wishing good luck. It is said that the phrase “toi, toi, toi” derived from the old tradition of spitting over your shoulder three times to ward off the devil or other bad spirits.
What makes idiomatic expression unique?
Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal language that have a meaning different from the meaning of the words in the expression. Here’s an example of an idiomatic expression: Hold your tongue. So, while their tongue is ready to do some talking, they “hold” it and don’t say anything.
Why can’t you say Macbeth in a theatre?
Don’t say the ‘M’ word! Saying ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre will immediately bring you bad luck. According to folklore, the play’s history of bad luck began at its very first performance (circa 1606) when the actor scheduled to portray Lady Macbeth died suddenly and Shakespeare was forced to replace him.
Is it bad luck to say good luck to an actor?
A person is never supposed to wish an actor “good luck,” but instead they are supposed to say “Break a leg!” Though it may seem maudlin to do so, many theater folk believe there are mischief-making spirits of the stage who use their magic to force the opposite of what you wish to happen.
What to say to a performer before they go on stage?
A common phrase to say to someone who is about to perform, “break a leg” translates to “good luck” in theatre slang. There are three theories for the popularity of this theatre saying. Actors are said to tell each other to “break a leg” and pretend to wish bad luck, so that the opposite will happen.
What do professional dancers say when someone breaks their leg?
Professional dancers do not wish each other good luck by saying “break a leg”; instead they say ” Merde! “, the French word for “shit”. In turn, theater people have picked up this usage and may wish each other ” merde “, alone or in combination with “break a leg”.
What does it mean to break a leg in theatre?
Another popular alternative theory concerning the physical “legs,” or side curtains, of the theatre proposes that the company of actors should rush onstage through the curtains to take a considerable amount of bows, thus “breaking a leg (side curtain)” in the process.
When do actors say I hope you break your leg?
In Bernard Sobel’s 1948 The Theatre Handbook and Digest of Plays, he writes about theatrical superstitions: “…before a performance actors never wish each other good luck, but say ‘I hope you break a leg.'”.
When did actors start wishing each other to break a leg?
While Booth’s roles as an actor are not well remembered, wishing an actor to “break a leg” is to wish them a performance worthy of remembrance. However, the fact that actors did not start wishing each other to “break a leg” until the 1920s (more than 50 years later) makes this an unlikely source.