Explanation at your level:
You have two legs. You use them to walk to school. If you have strong legs, you can run very fast. When you are tired, you sit down and rest your legs.
Humans have two legs, but many animals have four legs. You use your legs every day to move around. Sometimes, furniture like chairs and tables also have legs to stand on the floor.
The term legs refers to the limbs that support the body. In sports, athletes focus on building muscle in their legs to improve performance. You might also hear people say an idea 'has legs,' which means it is a good idea that will last for a long time.
While primarily anatomical, legs is frequently used in business and creative contexts. For instance, a marketing campaign might be described as having 'legs' if it has the potential to reach a wide audience over an extended period. Understanding these nuances helps you sound more like a native speaker.
In advanced English, legs can function as a metaphor for structural viability. In journalism or project management, an argument or a proposal is said to have 'legs' if it possesses the inherent strength to withstand scrutiny or sustain momentum. This figurative usage highlights the word's evolution from a simple physical descriptor to an abstract concept of endurance.
The etymological journey of legs from the Old Norse leggr illustrates a fascinating shift from material (bone) to functional (limb). In literary contexts, the word can evoke imagery of movement, stability, or even vulnerability. Mastery of the term involves navigating its physical, structural, and idiomatic applications across diverse registers, from the colloquial 'leg it' to the abstract 'having legs' in strategic discourse.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Legs are limbs for walking.
- Used for humans and furniture.
- Commonly used in idioms.
- Plural is always 'legs'.
When we talk about legs, we are usually describing the limbs that connect our torso to the ground. They are essential for mobility and balance in humans and many animals.
Beyond biology, the word is used metaphorically. For example, a table has legs to keep it steady. You might even hear someone say an idea has 'legs,' meaning it has the potential to last or succeed.
The word legs comes from the Old Norse word leggr, which originally meant 'bone' or 'stalk.' It entered Middle English around the 13th century.
Interestingly, it replaced the Old English word shank in many contexts. Over time, the meaning shifted from just the bone to the entire limb structure we recognize today.
You will use legs in almost every daily conversation. We talk about 'stretching our legs' after sitting too long or 'having strong legs' for sports.
In formal settings, you might describe the 'legs of a project' or 'legs of a journey.' It is a very versatile word that fits both casual and professional registers perfectly.
There are many fun ways to use this word!
- Break a leg: Used to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
- Find your legs: To get used to a new situation or skill.
- Leg it: A British slang term meaning to run away quickly.
- Stretch your legs: To walk around after sitting for a long time.
- Pulling my leg: When someone is joking with you or teasing you.
The word legs is the plural form of 'leg.' It is a countable noun, so you can have one leg or two legs.
Pronunciation is straightforward: /lɛɡz/ in both US and UK English. It rhymes with words like pegs, begs, and eggs.
Fun Fact
It replaced the older word 'shank' in common usage.
Examples by Level
I walk with my legs.
I use my legs to move.
Plural noun usage.
My legs are tired.
My legs feel weak.
Adjective follows noun.
The dog has four legs.
Dogs have 4 limbs.
Number before noun.
I run with my legs.
Running uses legs.
Verb usage.
He has long legs.
His legs are tall.
Adjective order.
Stand on your legs.
Use legs to stand.
Imperative verb.
My legs hurt today.
Pain in legs.
Present tense.
Move your legs fast.
Run quickly.
Action verb.
She stretched her legs during the break.
The table has four wooden legs.
My legs were sore after the long hike.
He tripped over his own legs.
The chair's legs are broken.
She has very fast legs for running.
Keep your legs straight while exercising.
The cat has short legs.
The project has real legs; we should continue.
He had to find his legs after the accident.
She decided to leg it when she saw the police.
The athlete injured his legs during the game.
The insect has six thin legs.
Break a leg at your audition tonight!
He is always pulling my leg about my haircut.
The chair needs new legs.
The proposal has legs if we can secure funding.
She found her legs in the new corporate environment.
The investigation has legs and will continue for months.
He was pulling my leg, but I believed him.
The table legs are wobbly; we need to fix them.
She has the legs to run a marathon.
Don't let him pull your leg; he is joking.
The plan has enough legs to survive the winter.
The theory has legs, provided we find more evidence.
After the merger, the company finally found its legs.
The story has legs and will likely be in tomorrow's paper.
He tried to leg it, but the security guard caught him.
The structure is supported by four massive stone legs.
She is just pulling your leg, don't take it seriously.
The business model has legs in this economy.
He has the legs to go the distance in this career.
The narrative has legs, transcending its original context.
The startup found its legs amidst the market volatility.
She was merely pulling my leg regarding the promotion.
The architectural design features spindly, elegant legs.
The argument has legs, despite initial skepticism.
He had to leg it across the field to catch the bus.
The policy has legs and will likely become law.
The chair's legs are carved with intricate patterns.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"Break a leg"
Good luck
Break a leg at your show!
casual"Pull someone's leg"
To tease or joke
Are you serious or pulling my leg?
casual"Find your legs"
Get comfortable
I'm finally finding my legs in this city.
neutral"Stretch your legs"
Walk after sitting
Let's stretch our legs.
neutral"Leg it"
Run away
We had to leg it to catch the train.
casual"Have legs"
To endure/succeed
This plan has legs.
neutralEasily Confused
Part of the same limb
Feet are at the end, legs are the whole limb
My feet hurt from walking.
General term
Limbs include arms too
He injured his limbs.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + have + legs
I have long legs.
Stretch + possessive + legs
I need to stretch my legs.
Cross + possessive + legs
She crossed her legs.
Idea + has + legs
The plan has legs.
Run + off + possessive + legs
I'm run off my legs.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
Usually we have two, so use the plural.
Plural agreement.
Foot is just the bottom part.
Leg is a noun, 'leg it' is the idiom.
Subject-verb agreement.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize your own legs.
Native Speakers
Use 'stretch my legs' often.
Cultural Insight
Theater uses 'break a leg'.
Grammar Shortcut
Always plural for humans.
Say It Right
End with a 'z' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'leg' for both.
Did You Know?
It comes from Old Norse.
Study Smart
Use flashcards with idioms.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
L-E-G-S: Limbs Enable Great Strides.
Visual Association
Imagine a table with human legs.
Word Web
چالش
Try to use 'stretch my legs' today.
ریشه کلمه
Old Norse
Original meaning: leggr (bone/stalk)
بافت فرهنگی
None, generally neutral.
Commonly used in sports and furniture.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Sports
- strong legs
- injured legs
- sore legs
Furniture
- table legs
- broken legs
- wobbly legs
Travel
- stretch my legs
- long legs
- tired legs
Business
- the project has legs
- found my legs
Conversation Starters
"Do you like running?"
"Do you prefer sitting or standing?"
"What do you do to rest your legs?"
"Have you ever broken a leg?"
"Do you have long or short legs?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your favorite sport and how you use your legs.
Write about a time you had to 'leg it'.
Why do you think we say 'break a leg'?
How do you feel after a long day of walking?
سوالات متداول
8 سوالTwo.
Yes, it is a common metaphor.
Rarely, usually in 'leg it'.
Legs.
It is neutral.
Good luck.
No, legs are the whole limb.
/lɛɡz/.
خودت رو بسنج
I walk with my ___.
Legs are for walking.
What has legs?
Furniture has legs.
If an idea has legs, it will fail.
It means it will succeed.
Word
معنی
Idiom meanings.
My legs are tired.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
Legs are the essential limbs that support our movement and stability in daily life.
- Legs are limbs for walking.
- Used for humans and furniture.
- Commonly used in idioms.
- Plural is always 'legs'.
Memory Palace
Visualize your own legs.
Native Speakers
Use 'stretch my legs' often.
Cultural Insight
Theater uses 'break a leg'.
Grammar Shortcut
Always plural for humans.
Related Content
این کلمه در زبانهای دیگر
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'e' sound followed by a 'gz' sound.
Crisp 'e' and voiced 'z' at the end.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'lags'
- Missing the 'z' sound
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Plural Nouns
leg -> legs
Subject-Verb Agreement
My legs are tired
Possessive Adjectives
My legs
