Legs Akimbo

Legs Akimbo Legs Akimbo Legs Akimbo By Simon Kewin Legs akimbo is a phrase used so much it has become a clichà ©, and clichà ©s are obviously something to be avoided if you want to create interesting, vivid writing. But you should also be aware that legs akimbo is logically meaningless. According to the OED, akimbo means : with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards (origin, probably from Old Norse). It might just be possible to achieve such a stance in a Science Fiction story (if an alien had arms protruding from its legs), but otherwise, you simply cant stand legs akimbo. Of course, as with many questions of grammar, it could be argued that it doesnt matter that words are being used incorrectly, so long as the reader understands what the writer meant. Its a long-running debate. Language is constantly evolving and new meanings are always emerging. But writers need to be aware of the technically correct usage of words because they need to write in different voices. If, say, they are writing a piece of colloquial dialogue, legs akimbo might well be fine, if thats the sort of thing the character might say. If, however, they were writing in an authoritative, narrative voice, or penning a query letter to a publisher, then the phrase should clearly not be used. Quite how you could get the phrase legs akimbo into a query letter to a publisher, meanwhile, is another matter Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly Words50 Latin Phrases You Should KnowParticular vs. Specific