a leg up
a start, a beginning, the first leg If I take a night class, I"ll have a leg up on my diploma.an arm and a leg
(cost) a large amount of money His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg.arm and a leg
pay a very high price for something that isn't worth it My father paid an arm and a leg for his car but he really enjoys driving it.arm and a leg|arm|leg
n., slang An exorbitantly high price that must be paid for something that isn't really worth it. It"s true that to get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg.bafflegab
confusing statements, jargon, political language There was a lot of bafflegab in the speech, a lot of nonsense.bootleg
illegal or unfair: "That test was totally bootleg"break a leg
good luck, have a good performance """Break a leg!"" she whispered as he walked on the stage."Break a leg!
Good luck!bush telegraph
street gossip, through the grapevine Arne gets the news through the bush telegraph. People tell him.College Boards|Board|College
n. A set of examinations given to test a student's readiness and ability for college. John got a high score on his College Boards. College Boards test both what a student has learned and his ability to learn.cost (someone) an arm and a leg
"cost a lot; be very expensive."cost a bomb|an arm and a leg|arm|bomb|cost|cost an
v. phr. To be extremely expensive. My new house has cost us an arm and a leg and we"re almost broke.cost an arm and a leg
cost a lot of money, is very expensive That fur jacket must have cost her an arm and a leg.cow college
cow collegeAn agricultural college; any small, relatively unknown rural college. For example, He"s never published a paper, but he might do all right in some cow college. This term uses cow in the somewhat pejorative sense of “provincial.”
cow college|college|cow
n., slang 1. An agricultural college; a school where farming is studied. A new, bigger kind of apple is being grown at the cow college. 2. A new or rural college didn’t think to be as good as older or city colleges. John wanted to go to a big college in New York City, not to a cow college.Crooked as a dog's hind leg
Someone who is very dishonest is as crooked as a dog's hind leg.fresh legs
players who are rested, players who are not tired """We need fresh legs out there!"" the coach yelled. ""They"re tired!"""get one's sea legs
Idiom(s): get one's sea legsTheme: SEA
to become accustomed to the movement of a ship at sea; to be able to walk steadily on the constantly rolling and pitching decks of a ship.
Jean was a little awkward at first, but in a few days she got her sea legs and was fine.
You may feel a little sick until you get your sea legs.
I will feel better when I have my sea legs.
give a leg up
give a leg upsee leg up, a.
give an arm and a leg
give a lot, pay a lot, give my eye teeth She"d give an arm and a leg to have her baby back.Give someone a leg up
If you give someone a leg up, you help them to achieve something that they couldn't have done alone.go legit|go|legit
v. phr. To start practicing a legitimate business after having been operating outside of the law. "The old days are over," the crime boss said to his friends. "We are going legit as of right now."hollow leg
(See a hollow leg)It costs an arm and a leg
If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive indeed.last leg|last|leg
n. phr. 1. Final stages of physical weakness before dying. The poor old man was on his last leg in the nursing home. 2. The final stage of a journey. The last leg of our round-the-world trip was Paris to Chicago. See: LAST LAP.last legs
(See on his last legs)leave without a leg to stand on
leave without a leg to stand onsee without a leg to stand on.
leg
legIn addition to the idiom beginning with leg, also see arm and a leg; break a leg; on one's last legs; pull someone's leg; shake a leg; stretch one"s legs; tail between one"s legs, with one"s; without a leg to stand on.
leg man
someone who performs messenger services, an errand boy He was working as a leg man for the motion picture company.leg man|leg|man
n., informal 1. An errand boy; one who performs messenger services, or the like. Joe hired a leg man for the office. 2. slang, semi-vulgar, avoidable A man who is particularly attracted to good looking female legs and pays less attention to other parts of the female anatomy. Herb is a leg man.leg pull
From: to pull someones leg, to make a joke. No leg pulls means no jokes; speak the truth. "No leg pulls kid"leg to stand on
a firm foundation of facts, facts to support oneleg to stand on|leg|stand|stand on
n. phr. A firm foundation of facts; facts to support your claim. Usually used in the negative. Jerry's answering speech left his opponent without a leg to stand on. Amos sued for damages, but did not have a leg to stand on.leg up
(See a leg up)leg up, a
leg up, a1) The act of assisting someone, giving someone a boost. For example, Studying with Jane, who knows French history well, will give you a leg up for the final exam. This usage alludes to helping a person get on a horse by getting a foot in the stirrup.
2) A position of advantage, as in Because of the advertising campaign, we had a leg up on the competition.
leg work
walking, going to visit customers or voters The kids delivered the notices - they did the leg work.leg work|leg|work
n., informal The physical end of a project, such as the typing of research reports; the physical investigation of a criminal affair; the carrying of books to and from libraries; etc. Joe, my research assistant, does a lot of leg work for me.legal age|age|lawful|lawful age|legal
The age at which a person is allowed to do a certain thing or is held responsible for an action. In most states the legal age for voting is 27. He could not get a driver's license because he was not of lawful age.Legend in your own lunchtime
Somebody who becomes a legend in their own lifetime acquires fame, but often only to a select or specialist audience, while they are still alive.new legs
young runners or players, rested players The Geritols have a lot of old players. They need new legs.not a leg to stand on
no good proof or excuse, no good evidence or defense to offer someone The company doesnnot a leg to stand on|leg|stand
n. phr., informal No good proof or excuse; no good evidence or defense to offer. The man with a gun and $300 in his pocket was accused of robbing an oil station. He did not have a leg to stand on.don't have a leg to stand on
Idiom(s): don't have a leg to stand onTheme: WRONG
To have no support. (Informal.)
You may think you"re in the right, but you don"t have a leg to stand on.
My lawyer said I didn't have a leg to stand on, so I shouldn't sue the company.
old college try, the
old college try, theOne's best effort, as in Come on, if we give it the old college try we just might be able to cut down this tree. This slangy expression, originally a cheer to urge a team on, dates from the 1930s when college football films were very popular.
old college try|college|old|old college|try
n. phr. An attempt to win a favor from another by mentioning the fact that one had gone to the same college or university as the party from whom the favor is requested. Since he needed a job, he decided to use the old college try when he contacted Jerry, but it didn't work.Compare: OLD BOY NETWORK.
on his last legs
very tired or old, at the end of his career Gordie was on his last legs, but he could still shoot hard.on one's last legs
on one's last legsExtremely tired, close to collapsing, as in We"ve been cleaning the house all day and I"m on my last legs. This hyperbolic expression originally meant “close to dying,” and in John Ray"s 1678 proverb collection it was transferred to being bankrupt. Soon afterward it was applied to the end of one"s resources, physical or otherwise. It is sometimes applied to things, as in That furnace is on its last legs.
on one"s last legs|last legs|leg|legs|on
adj. phr. Failing near the end. The blacksmith's business is on its last legs. The dog is old and sick. He is on his last legs.Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE"S KNEES 2 .
on one"s or sth"s last legs
Idiom(s): on one"s or sth"s last legsTheme: ENDINGS
To almost be finished. (Informal.)
This building is on its last legs. It should be torn down.
I feel as if I"m on my last legs. I’m really tired.
In continuation of the “anatomical” English idioms, let us turn our attention to the lower limbs.
Over time, of course, we will remember about heels, toes and feet, but today we will look at the legs as such, compile a selection of English idioms with the word “leg” and their translation and find out whether there is truth in the legs.
- to pull someone's leg- to fool one's head, to play a prank, to fool, to make fun of
This idiom implies that someone is playing a prank on you in a benevolent spirit, not wishing you harm, but trying to confuse or deceive you. According to one of the theories of etymological scientists, this phrase came into English thanks to London thieves who, on unlit, foggy streets, “stuck” their potential victims, causing them to lose their balance and orientation in space.
Another, much more bloodthirsty version of the origin of the idiom says that the phrase came from the village of Tyburn in the suburbs of London, where executions, including of high-ranking convicts, were carried out for seven centuries in a row. Among the village residents, special “gallows” were hired, who hung from the hanged people’s feet, guaranteeing their speedy death.
If you feel that someone is telling you lies and is clearly planning to trick you, speak directly: “Pull the other leg, it's got bells on!”, in the sense: “Tell stories! Find yourself another fool! The bells or bells in this "extended version" of the idiom are a reference to the jester's outfit.
- Break a leg!- Break a leg! Good luck!
The phrase, which appears in abundance both in Maugham’s “Theater” and in the super-popular teen series “Glee,” sounds quite malicious to the Russian ear. It all comes down to pathological acting superstition and the conviction that on the theater stage you cannot wish each other “good luck”, just as you cannot whistle in the dressing room or say the last line of the play during a rehearsal in costumes. Why they want to get seriously injured is not known for certain. Perhaps they wanted such a resounding success that they would have to kneel in a curtsy, or even bend over, to collect the coins thrown onto the stage by grateful spectators.
- Show a leg!- Get up! Get out of bed! Climb!
We have already discussed in detail the origin of this funny idiom.
- Shake a leg!- Move your legs! Hurry up!
Previously, this phrase was synonymous with the previous one and implied that someone should immediately jump out of bed, shake themselves and rush into a new day. Later it also meant “to dance” – remember the shake dance, popular in the 1960s?
In modern British English, this phrase has given way to the more biting slang expression “get a legger on” - “move your legs!”
- to get one's sea legs (back)- get used to it, get used to it, get into the rhythm
Like many idioms of a typical sea power, this idiom entered everyday English from the jargon of sailors who, after a long break between voyages, needed a few days to adapt and get used to not paying attention to the constant motion.
- to cost (to pay) an arm and a leg- cost fabulous money, cost a lot
According to the most common legend about the origin of this idiom, medieval portrait painters valued their modest work depending on the size of the canvas. A portrait that showed only the head and shoulders was much cheaper than a full-length ceremonial portrait (and, accordingly, all legs). In fact, this phrase came into English not so long ago, immediately after the Second World War, and implied that a person in his right mind would only part with his own arm or leg in case of a desperate situation and for a huge sum in return. Perhaps this phrase also refers to those who were wounded during combat and suffered amputation, thereby paying too high a price for victory.
Most likely, this idiom is based on two phrases: “I would give my right arm for it” meaning “I am ready to give the most precious thing for it” and “Even if it takes a leg”, translated - “Even if everyone needs it.” donate."
- to get a leg up- gain an advantage, gain support
This idiom comes from the world of horse riding and brings to mind the idea of a rider being helped into the saddle by placing cupped hands under his leg and pushing him up.
- to have a leg up on someone- to have an advantage over someone
Another idiom that comes from the world of sports, this time from the field of sprinting. If already at the beginning of the race the leader breaks away from his pursuers by at least the length of his stride, it is believed that this advantage will only increase over time.
- to have a leg to stand on- have proof, support, justification, a chance to prove you are right, justification for your opinion
Someone, perhaps, when mentioning this idiom, imagines pirates on wooden legs; in fact, in this case, what is meant is not human legs, but the legs of chairs or stools. The absence of one leg deprived the entire structure of stability, and over time this image began to be used in a figurative sense.
- on one's last legs- on its last legs, in a state of extreme wear and tear
The Russian analogue of this idiom would be the apt expression “breathing on its last legs.” The Russian language also has a phraseological unit “to be without hind legs”, and so, the English phrase can be considered its chronological predecessor, when someone gives his last strength, or some object lives its last hours.
- to stretch one's legs- stretch, take a walk
It would seem that the literal translation of this idiom implies, rather, on the contrary, the desire to relax and stretch your legs. But in the British mentality, this means warming up the muscles and stretching the ligaments with a brisk walk, which will be especially beneficial after prolonged immobility within four walls.
- with one's tail between one's legs- tuck tail, chicken out, drift away
This idiom is found almost verbatim in many languages, and its origin stories involve animals ranging from dogs and wolves to foxes and coyotes, for whom the tail held between the hind legs is a sign of submission, fear and timidity.
- to have a hollow leg– to be insatiable, to be able to absorb an incredible amount of food
“What a mess!” - we notice, watching how someone finishes their third helping of something nutritious. “He just has a hollow leg,” the British will assure us.
Memorize curious English idioms, and then, when the opportunity arises, you will be able talk the hind leg off a donkey, in other words, amaze everyone with how well you have a tongue, and “talk” anyone.
If you translate the English expression to pull somebody's leg into Russian literally, you get: to pull someone's leg. But the expression itself means to joke with someone, to fool someone, to fool someone's head. However, where is the head and where is the leg It is believed that the expression itself appeared in England in the 18th century, when the streets of London, and in general the streets of large cities, were completely covered with mud.And then the British invented a “joke”: some not very pleasant person was tripped with a stick with with a hook, and when it fell into what covered the streets, they laughed merrily. Yes, not the best example of English humor.
Cost an arm and a leg
To cost an arm and a leg means to cost a lot of money. In general, organs for transplantation really cost a fortune, and today’s jokes about “sell a kidney, buy yourself a *car, iPhone, anything else you need to substitute*” are quite understandable. However, this expression is much older than the entire history of transplant surgery. What do arms and legs have to do with it? According to one version, the expression appeared in those days when portrait artists set the price for a portrait depending on the area of the image, and a drawing of the head and shoulders was the cheapest. If hands were added, the price increased significantly, and portraits “with legs” were the most expensive. Although this assumption is not supported by any reliable facts. And the phrase itself will be older. A more reliable version seems to be that in order to show that something is very important and valuable to them, the British said “I would give my right arm for that and if it takes a leg” (I would give for this is the right hand, and, if necessary, the leg).
Break a leg
When someone goes to a difficult task: take an exam, for example, or present a report, or compete in a competition, we say “No worries! Not a feather!”, but English-speaking people, with all their warmth and cordiality, wish an already frightened person about the impending future to break his leg! Yes, yes, that’s exactly what they say: Break a leg. Here's a wish for good luck. The expression itself came into the language from the theater (everyone knows how superstitious actors are), over time they began to say this to everyone who performs in front of the public, be it a play, a concert or just a reading, and then this phrase turned into a general wish for success. Why exactly the leg? But no one knows. There are several versions. For example, they wanted an actor to perform so well that he would have to kneel in bow many times when the enthusiastic audience gave a standing ovation. Or, bend your knees, squatting, for coins, which the same generous audience will reward their favorite actors with. There is a version that dates back to Shakespeare's times, when the stage was on legs (legs), and with a tightly packed cheap part of the stalls, if the audience liked the performance, and enthusiastic connoisseurs of art, in order not to miss a single magical moment, actively pressed the legs on the stage They might not have been able to stand it. And of course, every actor secretly dreamed of playing in such a way that the fans, shedding tears of catharsis and chanting his name, would unanimously pull him out from under the rubble of the stage. There are even suggestions that this phrase reminds us of the great actress Sarah Bernhardt, who survived the amputation of her leg, but did not leave the stage. And the version about John Wilqua Booth, Lincoln’s assassin, who, trying to escape after shooting the president, jumped onto the stage and broke his leg, sounds completely implausible. Really, what luck here.
The English language is not only about grammar and complex reading rules, but also about beautiful idioms with an interesting history. Want to know more? Ask your teacher for interesting idioms.
