Break A Leg

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• show
• I guess
• literally
• jinx someone

• break a leg
• good luck
• superstition
• sweetie

• nag
• head

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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The day of your big performance is finally here. You’ve been practicing every day for months. Just as you’re about to walk out on stage, your friend says to you, “Break a leg!”

What?

Surprisingly, when you say “break a leg” to a performer, it means “good luck”. Why not just say, “Good luck”? There’s an old superstition among actors and musicians that saying “good luck” actually brings bad luck. So they say, “Break a leg!”

Jason is about to go play a concert with his band. Watch what happens after his girlfriend Devan tells him to break a leg.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Devan

Jason:  Hey, sweetie! I’ve got my microphone, I’m going to head over to the show, and I’ll see you later, okay?

Devan:  Wait a second!

Jason:  What?

Devan:  What time are you coming home?

Jason:  I don’t know. I mean, we’re playing… probably last, so… probably over at midnight, or something… and there’s a big party afterward…

Devan:  Big party?

Jason:  Well, you can come if you want! You’re the one who wanted to stay home!

Devan:  I do want to stay home. I just don’t understand why you don’t want to come home afterwards. I don’t see why you’d rather hang out with a bunch of young girls than hang out with your girlfriend, but whatever. I mean…

Jason:  I love hanging out with you. I just want to celebrate, you know, after the big show.

Devan:  Yeah. Yeah, right, celebrate with a bunch of alcohol and girls that are trying to throw their bras at you. Great! Whatever! Fine!

Jason:  There’s no bra-throwing! God.

Devan:  Well, break a leg, I guessI guess

Jason:  What is that supposed to mean?

Devan:  What does “break a leg” mean?

Jason:  Yeah!

Devan:  The really common term that means “good luck”?

Jason:  Okay, well, thanks, I guess. You know… I’ll see you when I see you.

Devan:  Whatever.

Devan:  Hello?

Jason:  Hey, it’s me!

Devan:  Hey… what’s up?

Jason:  I actually broke my leg!

Devan:  What? You broke your leg?

Jason:  I fell off the stage during the show and I really hurt myself.

Devan:  Oh my God, this is all my fault! Do you realize this? This is all my fault!

Jason:  No, no, it’s not your fault. I mean, you wanted me to have a good show, and actually it was a really good show until I hurt myself…

Devan:  But then you literally broke your leg! It’s because I jinxed you, or cursed you or something. This is all my fault! It’s because I’m always, like, nagging you and being a mean girlfriend, and…

Jason:  No, don’t say that…

Devan:  ...and I should be nice to you because at any moment you could be in a hospital and do something worse than break your leg. I’m a horrible girlfriend! I’m going to make it up to you!

Jason:  It’s not your fault at all. You’re a great girlfriend. Just… just meet me at the hospital. I don’t know how I could deal with this without you, so. So, I’ll see you there in a few minutes, okay?

Devan:  I love you!

Jason:  I love you, too.

Devan:  Bye!

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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