Origin of a saying

[Mesmer]

What is the origin of the expression 'Break a Leg' and is this bad luck to say to an actor?

[Quizmonster]

Click here for the answer.

[Mesmer]

Thanks QM on the button as ever.

[JRB]

When I asked a well-known actor this same question he told me that the "leg" referred to was the rope which opens the curtains and that to "break a leg" was to have so many curtain calls that the rope broke. It is the accepted way of wishing an actor "good luck"

[remesses]

The wings or curtains on the sides of the stage were once refered to as legs.
so to break a leg or rather to break out of the legs
was a saying of good luck to make an impression