1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 50]. I have a bone in my arm. This is a pretended excuse, with which people amuse young children when they are importunate to have them do something, or reach something for them, that they are unwilling to do, or that is not good for them.
1830. W. T. Moncrieff, The Heart of London, ii. 1. Got a bone in my leg felt rather indisposed.
To shake a free (or a loose) leg, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To live as one likes; to go on tramp.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, iii, ch. 9. While luck lasts the highwayman shakes a loose leg.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. etc., 1. 453. I longed for a roving life and to shake a loose leg.
1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 87. Those who love to shake a free leg, and lead a roving life, as they term it, rather than settle down to any continuous employment.
To give (or show) legs (or a clean pair of legs), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To decamp; to run away.
1883. Daily News, 15 May, p. 7, col. 2. 'The best way is to make a snatch and give legs for it; it's better than loitering.'
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 30. We bunked off in the scurry, and showed 'em a clean pair o' legs.
Not a leg (or a leg to stand on), subs. phr. (colloquial).—At the end of one's resources.
In high leg, subs. phr. (colloquial).—In high feather.
On one's last legs, subs. phr. (colloquial).—On the verge of ruin; at the end of one's tether.
1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, ii. Mrs. Sneak. Miss Molly Jollup to be married to Sneak! Sneak. Ay, and glad enough you could catch me: you know, you was pretty near your last legs.
1767. Ray, Proverbs (3rd ed.), p. 200. He's on his last legs.
1782. D'Arblay, Cecilia, vii. ch. 5. She can't possibly last long, for she's quite on her last legs.
To be (or get) on one's legs, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To rise to speak; to be speaking.
To stand on one's own legs, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To depend on oneself.
To set one (or get) on one's legs, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To restore or attain to good circumstances.
1888. Century Mag., xxxvii. p. 305. When the paper gets upon its legs.
To show a leg, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To get out of bed.
To have the legs of one, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To outrun.
1861. Macmillan's Mag., Mar., p. 357. The beggar had the legs of me.
To fight at the leg, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Leg. To fight at the leg, to take unfair advantages, it being held unfair by back-sword players to strike at the leg.
To fall on one's legs, verb, phr. (colloquial).—To prosper.
1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, iii. 3. A man who has plenty of brains generally falls on his legs.
1861. James Conway, Forage among Salmon and Deer, p. 155. And this inborn self-possession tends greatly to the advantage of the people who are so constituted. Hence it is that a Scotchman put him where you will, almost invariably falls on his legs.
To have legs, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be reputed fast (as a ship, a horse, a runner).
To feel one's legs, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be sure of one's ground.
