leg
/leΙͺΙ‘/
The primary image is a vertical pillar of support, whether biological, mechanical, or metaphorical. It evokes stability, weight-bearing, and the physical mechanism of movement.
When applied to furniture, it carries a sense of structural necessity; a "missing leg" implies instability. In the context of travel or racing, it shifts from a physical object to a segment of time or distance, representing a discrete chapter of a larger process.
As a verb, particularly in British English slang ("leg it"), the connotation shifts toward urgency or desperationβeither struggling through pain or fleeing quickly.
π¬Casual Conversation
This new art history textbook costs an arm and a leg.
This new art history textbook costs an arm and a leg.
Sounds like a skill issue, sis.
Sounds like a skill issue, sis.
Meanings
The limb on a person or animal that extends from the hip or shoulder to the foot.
He broke his leg during the football match.
A long, slender support for a piece of furniture, such as a table or chair.
The table has one leg that is slightly shorter than the others.
One of several stages or parts of a journey or a race.
The final leg of the relay race was the most grueling.
A side or a boundary of a triangular or rectangular area, often used in navigation or sailing.
The ship completed the first leg of its voyage across the Atlantic.
Collocations & Compounds
human leg
The limb of the human body used for walking and standing.
The human leg is composed of the thigh, the lower leg, and the foot.
animal leg
A limb of an animal used for locomotion.
The dog has four animal legs.
table leg
One of the supports at the bottom of a table.
One of the table legs was broken.
chair leg
One of the supports at the bottom of a chair.
Be careful not to trip over the chair leg.
broken leg
A fracture in one of the bones of the leg.
He had to wear a cast for his broken leg.
Phrasal Verbs
leg it
To run away, especially from a place or situation.
We saw the police coming, so we decided to leg it.
leg out
To extend or stretch out a leg.
After sitting for so long, she needed to leg out her stiff muscles.
Idioms & Sayings
break a leg
A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
You'll do great in the play tonight, break a leg!
on its last leg
Near the end of its life or usefulness; failing.
This old car is on its last leg; it's constantly breaking down.
pull someone's leg
To tease or trick someone in a playful way.
Are you serious about the job offer, or are you just pulling my leg?
have legs
To have the potential to become popular or successful over time.
This new song really has legs; it's been climbing the charts for weeks.
all legs and wings
Describing someone, typically a young person, who is very tall and thin and appears awkward.
At thirteen, she was all legs and wings, still growing into her body.
Etymology
The word 'leg' comes from the Old Norse word 'leggr', which referred to the limb of the body. It entered Middle English in the 13th century, likely replacing the Old English term 'scanca'. Its Proto-Germanic root is 'leg-', meaning 'to lie, lay'. Over time, 'leg' also came to mean a section of a journey or a support for furniture.