Antedating of "break a leg" (1940)--correction, now 1925
Douglas G. Wilson
douglas at NB.NET
Thu Feb 26 04:50:37 UTC 2009
Here's a loathsome snippet, ostensibly from 1922:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/cpwauf
... "May you break your leg!"
Here is the German "Brechen Sie Hals und Beine!" as a hunters'
salutation, in N&Q, 1906:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/bpltu8
Here is "brechen Sie ein Bein" in (I think) proper context, 1908:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/azvkjq
... but my German may not be up to snuff, so please check that I'm not
misunderstanding something again!
-- Doug Wilson
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