long legs
15
2.0
- noun
:
piernas largas
- Her cousin increased her speed, and her long legs devoured the ground in smooth, even strides.
I was like fast like because these long legs at the time, I had that fucking Usain Bolt like fucking stride and I was not carrying anywhere near the way I've got now.
- I was like fast like because these long legs at the time, I had that fucking Usain Bolt like fucking stride and I was not carrying anywhere near the way I've got now.
Examples
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Dewey's eyes wander down to Gale's long legs, the way her hips move as she walks... he's clearly distracted.
Fiction book (1996) -
He'd been blessed with a tough athletic body, long legs, and quick reflexes.
Fiction book (1990) -
...and she had those long legs.
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The one with the long legs usually wins.
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She's got nice long legs.
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He has really long legs.
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When she walked, she strode with long legs as if she were skating.
Academic text (2007) -
Taller than Gawyn, with long legs, he moved with a dancer's grace and a lean, sinewy strength.
Fiction book (1992) -
Christopher crossed his long legs, glanced uneasily at Elena, and exhaled.
Fiction book (1995) -
The runner's long legs helped him sprint ahead of the competition.
How Large
- Informal
15
2.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'long' clearly signals duration or extent, while 'legs' here is a metaphorical extension meaning staying power or ability to continue; together they point toward lastingness. However, the specific idiomatic use (e.g. a story 'having long legs' = continuing to attract attention) is a metaphorical, culture-specific extension that a B1 learner who only knows the literal meanings would likely not fully predict, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Long legs is a simple, literal image: a person or animal with long legs can take bigger steps, run faster, jump higher, or look taller. That's why we use long legs to talk about legs that are longer than average.