# legs

/ˈɫɛɡz/ (US) · /lˈɛɡz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/legs
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. body parts

noun · CEFR A1

the parts of a human or animal body used for standing and walking.

For teachers: the plural form of the limb used by humans and animals for support and locomotion.

- My legs were tired after walking around the city all day.
- The athlete spent months in physical therapy to regain strength in her legs after the accident during the marathon.

### 2. staying power

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the ability of an idea, story, or product to stay popular or successful for a long time.

For teachers: the capacity of a creative work, news story, or commercial product to maintain interest or momentum over an extended period.

- The manager thinks this marketing campaign has legs and will last all year.
- While many critics dismissed the film upon its initial release, it proved to have legs, eventually becoming a cult classic through word-of-mouth recommendations.

Usage: Usually used with the verb 'to have'.

### 3. wine streaks

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the clear lines or drops that run down the inside of a glass after you swirl wine.

For teachers: the droplets or streaks of wine that form on the inside of a wine glass, often used to judge alcohol content or body.

- The waiter pointed out the legs on the glass to show how strong the wine was.
- A wine with high alcohol content or sugar levels will typically exhibit more prominent legs on the side of the glass after swirling.

### 4. to run fast

verb · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

to run very quickly, especially to escape from someone.

For teachers: to travel or run at great speed; most commonly found in the phrasal verb 'leg it'.

- The boys saw the police and decided to leg it down the alley.
- Realising they were about to miss the final train of the evening, they had to leg it across the station plaza.

Usage: Often used in the third-person singular 'legs it' or the infinitive 'to leg it'.

## Examples

- This news story has legs and will be discussed all week.
- Investors were initially skeptical, but the startup's growth suggests the business model actually has legs.
- While many viral trends vanish within forty-eight hours, this particular meme has shown remarkable legs, evolving through various subcultures and maintaining its relevance for several months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.