Have legs 🚶‍♀️🦵

Meaning

To be likely to succeed or be viable in the long term.

Origin

Imagine a horse race. A horse with strong legs is a contender; it can go the distance. A horse with weak legs? It's likely to stumble and fall, never finishing. This vivid image transferred to ideas, plans, and projects. When something 'has legs,' it means it possesses the inherent strength and stability to endure and succeed, much like a sturdy steed on the track.

🏆 success ☠️ risk ⏳🕰️ time

Have legs represented with emoji🚶‍♀️🦵

This playful arrangement of emoji functions as a whimsical lens, focusing on the delightful interpretation of language. It teases out the hidden meanings within common phrases, inviting us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Note how the 🚶‍♀️ and 🦵 don't just walk, but suggest the very essence of enduring potential, a charming reminder that even simple icons can carry profound, long-term viability.

Examples

  • That business proposal has legs; I think the investors will approve it.
  • With such a strong narrative and engaging characters, this story definitely has legs.
  • Despite its odd premise, the idea for a singing teacup convention surprisingly has legs.
  • Who knew a recipe for invisible pickles would have legs, but the internet seems to love it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the English idiom 'have legs' only used for plans?

No, the idiom 'have legs' can be used for any concept, idea, or thing that shows potential for long-term success. While commonly applied to plans and projects, it can also describe a trend, a story, or even a person's career if they demonstrate endurance and potential for continued development.

What's the opposite of a plan that 'has legs'?

The opposite of something that 'has legs' is an idea or plan that 'won't go anywhere' or is 'dead on arrival'. These phrases indicate a lack of potential for success or viability from the outset.

Can the phrase 'have legs' be used humorously?

Yes, the phrase 'have legs' can definitely be used humorously, often with a touch of irony. For example, one might say a silly idea 'has legs' to exaggerate its perceived staying power, implying it's surprisingly resilient despite its absurdity.

Similar to "have legs"

Have stamina
Both phrases speak to endurance, but 'have stamina' sounds more like a raw, physical capacity, whereas 'have legs' implies a more cerebral, strategic viability for a project or idea
Be built to last
This one shares the core idea of longevity, but 'be built to last' feels grander, more structural, suggesting something designed from the ground up for permanence, while 'have legs' is more about an inherent potential that emerges later
Stand the test of time
Similar to 'be built to last', this emphasizes enduring against challenges, yet 'stand the test of time' is a retrospective judgment of proven resilience, whereas 'have legs' is a forward-looking prediction of that potential

Opposite of "have legs"

Go nowhere
This argues that the endeavor is doomed to futility from the start, a direct counterpoint to the hopeful projection of 'have legs' that something will indeed go somewhere significant
Be dead in the water
This phrase insists on an immediate, irreversible halt to progress, completely undermining the idea that something possesses the potential to move forward and succeed long-term, as implied by 'have legs'
Be a flash in the pan
This suggests a brief, spectacular burst of energy followed by an inevitable fizzle, directly challenging the notion of 'having legs' which implies sustained momentum and lasting impact

Related to "have legs"

Gain traction
This phrase shares the sense of forward movement and growing momentum with 'have legs', but 'gain traction' specifically refers to winning acceptance or support, a stepping stone to the broader viability 'have legs' suggests
Get off the ground
Before something can 'have legs', it must first 'get off the ground'; this phrase captures the initial crucial push to launch an idea or project, the very beginning of the journey that might lead to long-term success
Show promise
Both phrases are about future potential, but 'show promise' is an earlier, more tentative indicator of good things to come, while 'have legs' suggests a more developed, robust potential for sustained success
The writing's on the wall
While 'have legs' points to a positive future, 'the writing's on the wall' signals an impending doom or failure, creating a dramatic conversational counterpoint about certainty, whether of success or of collapse