leg
gb/lˈɛɡ/ us/lˈɛɡ/
A1
English
~ 900
láb, szakasz, útvonalszakasz, előny
NOUN
A1
1
láb
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s leg
She injured her left leg during the soccer match.
A focimeccsen megsérült a bal lába.
The cat rubbed against my leg.
A macska a lábamhoz dörgölőzött.
He felt pain in his right leg after running the marathon.
The table fell and hit my leg.
I crossed my legs while sitting.
Learner examples
My leg hurts.
Fáj a lábam.
He has long legs.
Hosszú lábai vannak.
She broke her leg.
I use my legs to walk.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'leg' with 'foot'; the foot is only the lower part of the leg.
Meaning
Limb for standing or walking
Collocations
break a leg
|cross your legs
|stretch your legs
|leg injury
|leg muscles
Synonyms
limb (A more general term for an arm or leg.)
Antonyms
arm (The upper limb, used for handling rather than walking.)
Themes
anatomy
|daily life
|body
|health
|animals
Definition
One of the two body parts we use to stand and walk.
One of the long body parts that support the body and are used for standing, walking, or running.
NOUN
A2
2
láb
A1
Usage pattern:
[something]'s leg
One of the chair's legs is broken.
A szék egyik lába eltört.
The desk has metal legs.
Az íróasztalnak fém lábai vannak.
He repaired the wobbly table leg.
The bed leg scratched the floor.
They painted the wooden legs of the bench.
Learner examples
The chair has four legs.
A széknek négy lába van.
One leg of the table is short.
Az asztal egyik lába rövidebb.
The bed has metal legs.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'leg' with 'foot' of furniture; the 'foot' is sometimes just the very bottom end.
Meaning
Furniture or structure support
Collocations
table leg
|chair leg
|bed leg
Synonyms
support (A general term for something that holds something up.)
Antonyms
top (The upper surface of a piece of furniture, opposite to the supporting part.)
Themes
furniture
|household
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A long part that holds up a table, chair, or other thing.
A long, narrow part that supports a piece of furniture or other object, keeping it upright.
NOUN
B1
3
szakasz
B1
Usage pattern:
the [first/last/etc.] leg of [something]
We completed the first leg of our journey by train.
Utazásunk első szakaszát vonattal tettük meg.
The final leg of the race is uphill.
A verseny utolsó szakasza emelkedőn vezet.
This bus ride is just one leg of the trip.
They won the first leg of the competition.
The next leg takes us across the desert.
Learner examples
We finished the first leg of our trip.
Befejeztük az utunk első szakaszát.
The last leg is very hard.
Az utolsó szakasz nagyon nehéz.
This is one leg of the race.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with physical 'leg'; here it is metaphorical for a segment of travel or competition.
Meaning
Part of a journey or race
Collocations
first leg
|final leg
|next leg
Synonyms
stage (A general term for one part of a process or journey.)
Antonyms
whole trip (Refers to the entire journey rather than one part.)
Themes
travel
|sports
|time
|transportation
Definition
One part of a trip or race between two places.
A stage or section of a trip, race, or process between two points.
NOUN
B2
4
szakasz
B1
The flight has two legs with a layover in Paris.
A repülőút két szakaszból áll, párizsi átszállással.
This shipping order includes three legs from factory to store.
Ez a szállítási megbízás három útvonalszakaszt tartalmaz a gyártól az üzletig.
We missed the second leg of our bus trip.
Learner examples
The flight has two legs.
A repülőút két szakaszból áll.
We take one leg by bus and one by train.
Az egyik szakaszt busszal, a másikat vonattal tesszük meg.
We missed the last leg.
Meaning
Segment in transport/delivery route
Collocations
flight leg
|shipping leg
Synonyms
segment (General word for one part of a route.)
Antonyms
direct route (Covers all distance without separate segments.)
Themes
logistics
|travel
|transportation
|business
Definition
One part of a trip between two stops in planes, buses, etc.
A single segment of a transport route, such as between two airports or stops.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
5
előny
B1
Her internship gave her a leg up in the job market.
A szakmai gyakorlata előnyt jelentett neki a munkaerőpiacon.
Good training can give athletes a leg up on their rivals.
A jó felkészülés előnyhöz juttathatja a sportolókat a riválisaikkal szemben.
He got a leg up thanks to his connections.
Learner examples
She has a leg up because she knows people there.
Előnyben van, mert ismer ott embereket.
Training gives you a leg up.
Az edzés előnyt jelent.
I need a leg up to win.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to interpret literally as lifting a physical leg; here it means advantage only in context.
Meaning
Advantage in competition/situation
Collocations
get a leg up
Synonyms
advantage (Neutral equivalent without idiomatic tone.)
Antonyms
disadvantage (A condition that makes success harder.)
Themes
business
|competition
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An advantage that helps you win or do better than others.
An advantage over others in a situation, often used in the phrase 'a leg up'.
Grammar
Dictionary form
leg
IPA
GB/lˈɛɡ/
US/lˈɛɡ/
Syllables & stress
leg (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (leg)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: leg
- Plural: leg, legs
Word family
Forms
legs
noun
Related words
leggings
noun
legroom
noun
Negative and opposite forms
legless
adjective
Advanced or less common
leggy
adjective
legwork
noun
Expressions
break a leg
1/bɹˈeɪk ə lˈɛɡ/
idiom
informal
Wish good luck (performance)
To say 'good luck' to someone who will perform, without using those exact words.
Examples
- You have your audition today? Break a leg!
- Before the play started, we all told her to break a leg.
have legs
1/hˈæv lˈɛɡz/
idiom
informal
Have lasting potential/success
To be likely to continue being successful or popular for some time.
Examples
- This new TV show really has legs; people keep watching it every week.
- Their business idea has legs and could grow fast.
on its last legs
1/ˈɔn ˈɪts lˈæst lˈɛɡz/
idiom
informal
Close to failure/wearing out
Almost broken or not working well because it is very old or used too much.
Examples
- My old laptop is on its last legs.
- That washing machine is on its last legs; we should replace it soon.
stretch your legs
1/stɹˈɛt͡ʃ jˈʊɹ lˈɛɡz/
fixed phrase
Walk briefly after sitting long
To walk for a short time after sitting for a long time so your legs feel better.
Examples
- We stopped at a rest area to stretch our legs.
- After the long drive, we stopped to stretch our legs.
- After the long meeting, I needed to stretch my legs.
- Let's take a break and stretch our legs before continuing.
cost an arm and a leg
1/kˈɔst ən ˈɑɹm ˈænd ə lˈɛɡ/
idiom
informal
Be very expensive
Be very expensive; cost a lot of money.
Examples
- That car cost me an arm and a leg.
- That designer bag costs an arm and a leg.
- The repairs will cost an arm and a leg.
- The trip will cost an arm and a leg if we fly first class.
cost an arm and a leg
2/kˈɔst ən ˈɑɹm ˈænd ə lˈɛɡ/
idiom
informal
Be very expensive
To be very expensive to buy or get.
Examples
- That designer bag cost an arm and a leg.
- Going to college can cost an arm and a leg.