Reader question:
In this sentence seen in a fan forum on the web – Go break a leg, Yao – "break a leg" is explained as "good luck", how come?
My comments:
Break a leg, Yao.
It's a scary thought, isn't it? Any time I see Yao Ming fall to the floor clutching his ankle (as he did two days ago in the Olympics opener against USA), I am scared.
Anyways, "break a leg" is an old idiom in Britain and America, meaning "good luck". Indeed, how come?
There are many theories as to its origin, the most plausible ones (to me) point to superstition and ancient theater.
In many cultures including Chinese, people don't always say "good luck" outright to someone about to embark on a journey or adventure. This is perhaps due to the fact that well-wishing notwithstanding, bad luck (accidents and so forth) does happen and so therefore in some cases, saying "good luck" outright becomes a bad omen. It is as though, you see, in soliciting good luck, one wakens up the demons as well. Voodoo as it may sound, this is actually not inconsistent with human psychology (or common sense, sticking to the superstition side) – The more we look for something, the more elusive it sometimes becomes. That's why Taoists say: In trying to get it you don't get it; in not trying to get it you sometimes get it. In other words, don't try too hard.
On the other hand, therefore, to say "Break a leg" is like confronting the demons head-on – as though saying to the devils, I am aware you're there so don't bother playing mischief in an attempt to catch me off guard.
Another theory concerns British theater. After giving a good performance in ancient times, happy and satisfied audiences throw coins onstage to show their appreciation. Actors then come back onstage, kneeling down, to collect the money. And when they kneel, they are said to be "breaking a leg (line)" – when one stands erect, they have a straight leg line; when they curve their legs, the straight leg line is broken. Therefore, for actors to "break a leg", they have to have given a good performance.
"Break a leg" also denotes effort, as in "I may not get there in time, but I'll break a leg trying (to get there in time)". So "Break a leg, Yao", in addition to good luck, also suggests hard work, which Yao always gives, of course. Personally, however, when it comes to Yao, I prefer a plain nice "good luck" any time – the guy's had so many lower-leg injuries that "break a leg" just ceases to sound right. If Yao needs a break, he needs a good break.
Anyways, here are a few media examples of "break a leg":
1. Will Heather Mills McCartney 'Break a Leg'?
Bookies are taking bets on whether the artificial limb of Paul McCartney's soon-to-be ex-wife will fall off when she hits the dance floor March 19 for the new season of "Dancing With the Stars."
Bodog.com, an online gaming site based in Antigua, opened bets Monday on the fate of McCartney's prosthetic, heavily favoring "no," Reuters reports.
The 39-year-old former model lost her left leg below the knee in a traffic accident in 1993.
"It's very, very unlikely my leg's going to fly off even though it would be quite funny to knock one of the judges out," she told the TV show "EXTRA" last week. "I'm hoping to show people that even with a prosthetic leg you can dance."
2. 'Break a Leg' actor takes it literally
Actor David Middleton was told ‘break a leg' before a 42-date theatre tour - and then tripped over a pavement outside his house.
David, 45, was forced to go on tour with his leg in plaster after shattering his ankle in the trip.
David said: "It's such an old tradition in the theatre that you should say break a leg before you go on - because it's bad luck to say good luck.
"But I never thought it would happen to me...."
纽约市曼哈顿上城区建筑物爆炸导致3人死亡 60人受伤
土豪看过来:售价250美元的汉堡
卡梅伦首相送女儿上幼儿园 父女俩齐卖萌
国际刑警组织:假护照登机没有你想象中那么难
老虎伍兹开球失手 短时间内击中球迷头部两次
做自信女人:女人气场修炼三招
白宫:马航失联客机搜索将扩大至印度洋
马航失联航班有四名乘客身份存疑待查
双语读两会:两会代表精彩语录
“OK”将迎来175岁生日 全球最流行词语!
马航失联飞机可能飞行五个小时
爆笑盘点:那些年招聘方对求职者说过的谎话
时间都去哪儿了?年纪越大越觉时光飞逝
美国18岁少女酷似真人芭比 网络爆红
历史上几个未解的飞机失踪之谜
外媒:什么原因可能导致马航飞机失踪?
美国人出书向世界介绍中国白酒
女性依然难以逆袭 印度容不下剩女
社交课堂:12步克服羞涩和社交焦虑症
终生大事:嫁还是不嫁 这是个问题
生活艰辛时也请别忘记的13件事
新浪微博在美提交IPO文件,融资5亿美元
什么原因可能导致马航飞机坠毁?
腾讯与阿里巴巴将分别推出信用卡
飞机出事怎么办?11个自救求生方法
想脱鞋? 站稳了别坐下更别倒下
紧缩政策产生负面影响 中国“地王”岌岌可危
英媒发全球大学排行:哈佛第一 清华北大上榜
《纸牌屋》中的中国新形象
人有旦夕祸福 空难自救黄金6法则
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |