break a wrist

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "break a wrist" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is wishing good luck, particularly in performance arts, but it is less common than "break a leg." Example: "Before the show, I told the dancers to break a wrist and give it their all on stage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Someone could fall and break a wrist.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's obviously something I regret doing and hopefully in the future, if I get to that point again, hopefully I can deal with it in a way where I don't break a wrist".

The Guardian - Sport

"Looking back it's obviously something I regret doing and hopefully in the future if I get to that point again hopefully I can deal with it in a way where I don't break a wrist.

The Guardian - Sport

A rider can break a wrist at any moment and put them out of races, as we have seen already this season.

BBC

It is very easy to break a wrist or a leg and put yourself out of a couple of races; that is the downside of motorcycle racing, you are so vulnerable.

BBC

"Big deal, you break a wrist.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

She slipped, tumbled down the mountainside, broke a wrist and dislocated a shoulder.

Independent

A couple years ago, I broke a wrist catching myself on a door frame.

The Washington Post

Not everything went that smoothly last year with Goodison breaking a wrist in a cycling accident.

The Guardian - Sport

Gordon's troubles started in last summer's training camp when he broke a wrist.

The New York Times - Sports

Their son breaks a wrist falling off a porch he was repairing.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential injuries, especially in sports or physical activities, use "break a wrist" to clearly communicate a specific type of injury. For example, "A rider can break a wrist at any moment and put them out of races."

Common error

While "break a wrist" is acceptable, consider the context. In formal or professional settings, more precise language like "suffer a wrist fracture" might be more appropriate than the general phrase "break a wrist".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break a wrist" functions primarily as a verb phrase used to describe a specific type of injury. It is commonly found in news reports and personal accounts detailing accidents or physical activities, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "break a wrist" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe a wrist injury. Ludwig's analysis indicates it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register. While it is not as frequent as similar expressions like "break a leg" (which has a different idiomatic meaning), it is a straightforward and clear way to communicate a specific type of injury, with additional context found in Ludwig's examples. It would be best to avoid it in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get a broken wrist

Another phrase that means to have a wrist injury.

suffer a wrist fracture

Replaces "break" with a more formal synonym "suffer" and specifies the injury as a fracture.

fracture one's wrist

Uses the verb "fracture" instead of "break", maintaining a direct and clear meaning.

endure a wrist fracture

Implies a process of tolerating a fracture.

come down with a wrist fracture

Similar to the other fracture options, but uses more medical language.

sustain a wrist injury

Emphasizes the event of receiving a wrist injury.

injure a wrist

Broadens the scope to any kind of injury, not just a break.

have a wrist injury

Focuses on the state of having an injury, rather than the event of acquiring it.

damage a wrist

Replaces "break" with "damage", indicating harm to the wrist.

hurt your wrist

More informal way of saying that someone got a wrist injury.

FAQs

How can I use "break a wrist" in a sentence?

You can use "break a wrist" to describe an injury, as in "She slipped and fell, and she could "break a wrist"."

What's a more formal alternative to "break a wrist"?

A more formal alternative would be "suffer a wrist fracture" or "fracture one's wrist", which are typically used in medical or technical contexts.

What kind of activities would lead to someone breaking their wrist?

Activities with a high risk of falls or impacts such as skateboarding, snowboarding, or even falling down stairs could lead to someone breaking their wrist.

Is "break a wrist" as common as "break a leg"?

No, "break a leg" is a more common idiom, typically used to wish someone good luck. "Break a wrist" is primarily used to describe a physical injury and doesn't share the same idiomatic usage.