Have you ever (figuratively) stumbled around trying to find the right turn of phrase in Danish? Today’s expression of the day could be just the thing for you.
Stretches legs is a phrase made up of two different words, the verb to buckle and the noun, leg. Let’s look at the first part of the phrase first.
The verb to buckle means to stretch something to its full length, making it tense, perhaps by fixing it to two points (it should not be confused with the noun a buckle, meaning a clip which holds things together).
It can also have the figurative meaning of squeezing as much use or potential out of something as possible, as in he stretched the week’s food budget so effectively that he didn’t have to shop again until nine days later (“he stretched that week’s food budget so efficiently that he didn’t need to shop again for nine days”).
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Leg is the Danish word for “leg” (and does not change between singular and plural form), so to brace legs is literally to stretch a leg.
A more accurate translation of to brace legs, however, would be to “stick a leg out”, with the implicit intention of tripping someone up.
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The phrase is not just used to describe juvenile practical jokes though, and also has a figurative use meaning to present an obstacle or difficulty in the way of what you or someone else may be trying to achieve.
An object or situation can also “stick a leg out”, something that wouldn’t make sense in the English language usage of the phrase.
You can even brace legs for yourself by hindering your overall progress through your actions, conjuring up images of contorted limbs as you try to get one of your legs in the way of the rest of your body.
Example sentences
You are only setting yourself up for trouble if you do not find a relevant internship course during your education.
You’re just holding yourself back if you don’t find a relevant work placement during your studies.
EU rules stand in the way of the government’s desire to introduce a ban on selling cigarettes.
EU rules are providing an obstacle to the government’s plan to introduce a ban on selling cigarettes.
