I share 20 idioms related to legs, including their meanings and examples. It provides a mix of funny idioms, common expressions, and idioms that combine leg and hand references. Understanding idioms enriches your language skills and makes communication more figurative.
I will guide you through each idiom, giving clear meanings and examples, ensuring you can easily incorporate them into your everyday conversations. These idioms, connected through body parts like legs and hands, highlight the versatility and humor in the English language.
List of 20 idioms for legs
- Break a leg
- Pull someone’s leg
- Shake a leg
- Leg up
- Cost an arm and a leg
- On its last legs
- Stretch one’s legs
- Give a leg up
- Have legs
- Run off one’s feet
- Leg it
- Get your feet wet
- Have one foot in the grave
- Put your best foot forward
- Get a leg up
- Have a foot in both camps
- Hand and foot
- Change hands
- Gain the upper hand
- Out of hand
Funny Idioms for Leg
Break a leg
Meaning: Good luck.
Example: Before the play started, I told her to break a leg.
Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: Joke with someone.
Example: He said he won the lottery, but he was just pulling my leg.
Shake a leg
Meaning: Hurry up.
Example: We need to leave in 10 minutes, so shake a leg!
Leg up
Meaning: An advantage.
Example: Her experience gave her a leg up in the job interview.
Best Idioms for Leg
Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive.
Example: That car costs an arm and a leg.
On its last legs
Meaning: Near the end of life.
Example: My old laptop is on its last legs.
Stretch one’s legs
Meaning: Go for a walk.
Example: After sitting all day, I needed to stretch my legs.
Give a leg up
Meaning: Help someone improve.
Example: The mentor gave the intern a leg up in the industry.
Have legs
Meaning: Likely to continue.
Example: This rumor seems to have legs.
Run off one’s feet
Meaning: Very busy.
Example: I’ve been run off my feet all day at work.
Leg it
Meaning: Run quickly.
Example: We had to leg it to catch the last bus.
Get your feet wet
Meaning: Start doing something new.
Example: I got my feet wet in programming with a simple project.
Have one foot in the grave
Meaning: Very old or sick.
Example: He’s so ill, he practically has one foot in the grave.
Put your best foot forward
Meaning: Make a good start.
Example: In your new job, remember to put your best foot forward.
Get a leg up
Meaning: Receive help.
Example: She got a leg up from her coach to improve her skills.
Have a foot in both camps
Meaning: Involved in two groups.
Example: He has a foot in both camps, working for both companies.
Idioms for Leg and Hand
Hand and foot
Meaning: Completely.
Example: She waited on him hand and foot during his recovery.
Change hands
Meaning: Pass to a new owner.
Example: The property changed hands last year.
Gain the upper hand
Meaning: Take control.
Example: We need to gain the upper hand in negotiations.
Out of hand
Meaning: Uncontrolled.
Example: The party got out of hand quickly.
What does “on its last legs” mean?
“On its last legs” means something is near the end of its usefulness or life. For example, an old car that breaks down frequently is on its last legs.
How do you use “pull someone’s leg” in a sentence?
You use “pull someone’s leg” to indicate joking or teasing someone. For example, “He said he won the lottery, but he was just pulling my leg.”
What does “cost an arm and a leg” mean?
“Cost an arm and a leg” means something is very expensive. For example, “That designer handbag costs an arm and a leg.”
Is “break a leg” an idiom?
Yes, “break a leg” is an idiom that means “good luck,” especially used to wish someone success in a performance. For example, “Before the play started, I told her to break a leg.”
