Where does the stage saying of " Break a leg" come from ...?

Question

Meaning good luck. My daughter is doing her xmas play tonight and didn't like it when l said "break a leg" in return she said " get run over by a car!" She is back in 2 hours so any help to redeem myself will be apprerciated thanks!

Answer 1

traditionally its bad luck to wish someone good luck before going onstage. (this is because it makes them cocky, and thats never good)
anyway, because they still wanted to encourage, "break a leg" has started to MEAN good luck. Tell your daughter that you meant she's such an exellent actress that you thought you'd keep her focused, so that everyone else would be on cue.

Answer 2

I'm inclined to agree with the answerer who suggests it's a euphamistic way of wishing somebody good luck. Actors are a superstitious lot, to be sure (I once was forced to go through an elaborate de-jinxing ritual after I committed the cardinal sin of speaking the name of The Scottish Play aloud). German actors have it even worse; there, you wish somebody "Hals- und Beinbruch!" Literally, "Break your neck and your leg!"

Answer 3

I've heard two different versions of this history
The one I remember was that the actor/actress who acted out any break of a bone got more recognition for their effort
however, according to the link below, it is more likely a translation difference, of bending your leg, that your performance would be so good that you would be called out to the stage afterward for a curtain call and thus be bowing (bending at the knee)

There's even another one (see 2nd link)
"When a new actor would take over a particular role that had become closely associated with a legendary actor, he was told "break the legend". Over time this gradually got changed to "break a leg". ":

Answer 4

Hello Max, these links will help.

Idioms, Quotes and Sayings.

GOOD SITES WITH ORIGINS.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/

http://eleaston.com/ety-site.html#ety

http://www.wordorigins.org/

http://www.bartleby.com/100/

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/

http://www.wordwizard.com/

http://www.quotationsbook.com/

http://www.litquotes.com/

http://www.giga-usa.com/

http://www.boardofwisdom.com/

http://www.quoteworld.org/

http://www.rockwisdom.com/

http://www.great-quotes.com/

http://quotations.home.worldnet.att.net/

http://www.quotationspage.com/

http://www.online-literature.com/quotes/quotations.php

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Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.

Answer 5

Explain to her what you meant. I am sure through proper explanation, she would understand,

Answer 6

Tell he you will have the mafia break her other leg if she mouths off to you again.