Break a leg

[Fred Shapiro]

On Mon, 2 Dec 2002, Dave Wilton wrote:

> Partridge's "Dictionary of Catchphrases," Paul Beale, ed. has a pretty good
> write up on the phrase. No specific citations before the '70s though.
> Although it does record actors recalling the phrase from the '30s and '40s.
> HDAS has some cites from the '60s, IIRC.

The earliest citation in HDAS is dated 1964.  Here is earlier from
ProQuest Historical Newspapers:

1957 _N.Y. Times_ 25 Apr. 23  All-Square Playhouse, a New York University
student dramatic group, will present an original musical, "Break a Leg."
... Alan Mount, a senior has written the score and book.

Fred Shapiro


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
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