History of words and phrases

Break a leg: To wish an actor prior to his going on stage to "break a leg" is a well-known practice. Germans enlarge on the malediction, wishing him to break his neck as well! It's said to bring him luck and make sure that his performance will be a success.

Fiasco: It can mean failure or a type of bottle. In Italian, the word is used to describe a type of bottle with rope around  the bottom. The French use it to mean a humiliating failure.

Grand slam: Think this word comes from baseball or tennis? You would be wrong! It was first used in the card game Contact Bridge.