这个短语的字面解释是“断一条腿”，这是什么意思呢？请看对话：

    A: What are some of the well-known superstitions of the theater?

    B: That it is bad luck to whistle in a dressing room is a widely accepted belief. Another is that one actor should not wish another good luck before a performance but say instead “I hope you break a leg.”

    Note: Theatrical types are well known for their belief in superstitions, or at least for their willingness to make a show of pretending to believe in them. The term “break a leg” appears to come from the belief that one ought not to utter the words “good luck” to an actor. By wishing someone bad luck, it is supposed that the opposite will occur. The most common interpretation of “break” in this context is “to deviate from a straight line,” to unstraighten the leg by bending at the knee, by bowing or curtseying.