Give it some legs 🏃💨

Meaning

To add enthusiasm, speed, or momentum to something, making it more dynamic and likely to succeed.

Origin

This phrase likely sprints from the world of performance and storytelling. Imagine a script, a song, or a speech that starts strong but begins to drag. The director or editor might exclaim, "We need to give it some legs!" They're not asking for literal limbs, of course. They want more energy, more drive, more of that forward momentum that makes an audience lean in and pay attention. It's about injecting vitality, making sure the idea, project, or performance doesn't just stand there but truly moves, captivating everyone involved.

🦁💪 courage 🏆 success 💪📈 work 🗣️ communication

Give it some legs represented with emoji🏃💨

This whimsical work playfully juxtaposes the inherent speed of 🏃 with the ephemeral wisps of 💨, functioning as a visual metaphor for injecting energy and dynamism into our endeavors. It underscores the importance of not just starting, but truly giving 'it' some legs to move forward with gusto and momentum.

Examples

  • The project is a bit slow; we need to give it some legs to meet the deadline.
  • Our marketing campaign needs more energy; let's give it some legs with a viral video.
  • The band played a great tune but seemed hesitant at first, so the drummer gave it some legs with a thunderous beat.
  • The idea had potential, but it was dragging its feet, so I gave it some legs by suggesting a flash mob.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'give it some legs' a common idiom in business meetings?

Yes, 'give it some legs' is frequently used in business to encourage faster progress or add excitement. The phrase implies adding energy and momentum to a project or idea, making it more likely to succeed or gain traction.

What is the opposite of 'give it some legs'?

The opposite of 'give it some legs' would be phrases that suggest slowing down, stagnation, or ending momentum, such as 'put the brakes on it,' 'let it die,' or 'it's lost its steam.'

Can 'give it some legs' refer to making something go viral on social media?

Absolutely, 'give it some legs' can be used in the context of social media to mean making a post or campaign spread rapidly. It means to inject energy and shareability into the content to encourage it to gain momentum and reach a wider audience.

Does 'give it some legs' have a negative connotation?

No, 'give it some legs' generally carries a positive connotation, implying a desire to improve or enhance something. It's a call to action to inject vitality and forward movement into an idea, project, or performance.

Similar to "give it some legs"

Put some rocket fuel in its tank
Both phrases urge us to inject a surge of energy for faster progress, but this one evokes a more explosive, almost reckless acceleration, as if speed itself is the primary objective
Get the ball rolling
Both phrases aim to initiate or accelerate action, but 'get the ball rolling' focuses on the crucial first push to overcome inertia, rather than sustaining or enhancing momentum once it's moving
Add some horsepower
Both are about increasing power and capability, but 'give it some legs' implies enabling natural, sustained movement, while 'add some horsepower' suggests bolting on brute strength for a more forceful push

Opposite of "give it some legs"

Let it find its own feet
This argues for allowing natural development and organic growth without forced acceleration, implicitly suggesting that 'giving it legs' might be meddling or premature
Just let it be
This is a call for patient observation, a stark contrast to the proactive injection of energy that 'give it some legs' demands, valuing stillness and natural decay over enforced vitality
Run it into the ground
This advocates for pushing something to its absolute limit, often to the point of exhaustion or destruction, rather than the positive, forward momentum implied by 'giving it legs'

Related to "give it some legs"

Get the show on the road
This phrase shares the urgent call to action and deployment with 'give it some legs', but focuses solely on the initial start-up rather than the ongoing drive
Kick it into high gear
This concept orbits 'give it some legs' by focusing on rapid acceleration, though it specifically relates to shifting into a higher speed setting rather than generating the underlying energy itself
Break a leg
While seemingly unrelated, both phrases are theatrical in origin, with 'break a leg' being an idiom for wishing good luck and 'give it some legs' emerging from the idea of a performance needing dynamic energy to succeed
Give it some welly
This British colloquialism echoes the spirit of 'give it some legs', but frames the added effort specifically as a hard, determined push rather than sustained, dynamic movement