Word of the Day: Leg
We use our legs for standing, walking, swimming, kicking, and running.
There are many different ways to talk about a person’s legs. This word has both literal (actual) and figurative (symbolic) meanings.
- Tom’s got strong legs. (Tom’s = Tom has)
- Sarah’s got nice legs. (This is often said of a woman whose legs have a nice shape.)
- I’ve got a cramp in my leg from running.
- Zebediah’s legs gave out from underneath him after he finished the marathon. (legs give out = fall)
- When lifting something heavy, don’t lift with your back. Lift with your legs.
- After a long illness it’s important to get back on your legs.
- Sheila’s dress shows a lot of leg. (By design, the dress reveals her legs.)
The word “leg” is also used for things that aren’t human legs, but function in the same manner as a leg.
- A table has four legs.
- Chairs also have four legs.
- A stool might have three legs.
- Golf courses have fairways that are laid out in the shape of a dog leg.
- A rally in the stock market has legs if it still has some strength and momentum.
- A company that doesn’t have a leg to stand on lacks capital, or it lost all of its financial support.
- The last leg of a tour or a race is the last stage or the last part.
- In a three-legged race, pairs of contestants each have one leg tied to that of a partner.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with L page to see the list of all words starting with letter L. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
