It has legs

Posted by Masakim on September 02, 2001

In Reply to: It has legs posted by joel on September 02, 2001

: There is a reasonably common phrase, "[something] has legs." I'm wondering if it means, figuratively, that something is strong, agile, or has endurance.

: Does anyone know for sure which is meant? And, out of curiosity, what's the derivation.

Jonathon Green writes, in Cassell's Dictionary of Slang, "have legs [19C+] to be considered fast" and notes "media jargon _have legs_, of a TV programme, book etc, to be a potential success."

From _Mass Media Dictionary_ by R. Terry Ellmore:

legs A slang term for a motion picture or television program that has or will achieve strong audience acceptance or interest.