5 N‑COUNT A leg of a long journey is one part of it, usually between two points where you stop. □ [+ of ] The first leg of the journey was by boat to Lake Naivasha in Kenya.
6 N‑COUNT A leg of a sports competition is one of a series of games that are played to find an overall winner. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] The Arsenal centre back scored in both legs of the Champions League qualifier .
7 PHRASE If you say that something or someone is on their last legs , you mean that the period of time when they were successful or strong is ending. [INFORMAL ] □ This relationship is on its last legs.
8 PHRASE If you are pulling someone's leg , you are teasing them by telling them something shocking or worrying as a joke. [INFORMAL ] □ Of course I won't tell them; I was only pulling your leg.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone does not have a leg to stand on , or hasn't got a leg to stand on , you mean that a statement or claim they have made cannot be justified or proved. [INFORMAL ] □ It's only my word against his, I know. So I don't have a leg to stand on.
10 an arm and a leg → see arm ➊
11 with your tail between your legs → see tail
lega|cy /le gəsi/ (legacies )
1 N‑COUNT A legacy is money or property which someone leaves to you when they die. □ You could make a real difference to someone's life by leaving them a generous legacy.
2 N‑COUNT [n N ] A legacy of an event or period of history is something which is a direct result of it and which continues to exist after it is over. □ [+ of ] …the legacy of inequality and injustice created by Apartheid.
le|gal ◆◆◇ /liː g ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Legal is used to describe things that relate to the law. □ He vowed to take legal action. □ …the British legal system. □ I sought legal advice on this. ● le|gal|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ There are reasons to doubt that a second trial is morally, legally or politically justified. □ It could be a bit problematic, legally speaking.
2 ADJ An action or situation that is legal is allowed or required by law. □ What I did was perfectly legal. □ …drivers who have more than the legal limit of alcohol. SYNONYMS legal ADJ 2
lawfuclass="underline" It was lawful for the doctors to treat her in the way they considered best.
allowed: Gifts like chocolates or flowers are allowed.
authorized: Entry into this area is for authorized personnel only.
le |gal ai d N‑UNCOUNT Legal aid is money given by the government or another organization to people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.
le |gal hi gh (legal highs ) N‑COUNT A legal high is a drug that is taken because of its pleasant effects, but which is not illegal. □ The girl suffered a dangerous reaction after taking a legal high.
le|gal|ise /liː gəla I z/ → see legalize
le|gal|is|tic /liː gəl I st I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that someone's language or ideas are legalistic , you are criticizing them for paying too much attention to legal details. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …complicated legalistic language. □ …his fussily legalistic mind.
le|gal|ity /ligæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If you talk about the legality of an action or situation, you are talking about whether it is legal or not. □ [+ of ] The auditor has questioned the legality of the contracts.
le|gal|ize /liː gəla I z/ (legalizes , legalizing , legalized ) in BRIT, also use legalise VERB If something is legalized , a law is passed that makes it legal. □ [be V -ed] Divorce was legalized in 1981. □ [V n] …the decision of the Georgian government to legalise multi-party elections. ● le|gali|za|tion /liː gəla I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the legalization of same-sex marriage.
le |gal te n|der N‑UNCOUNT Legal tender is money, especially a particular coin or banknote, which is officially part of a country's currency at a particular time.
leg|ate /le g I t/ (legates ) N‑COUNT A legate is a person who is the official representative of another person, especially the Pope's official representative in a country. [FORMAL ]
le|ga|tion /l I ge I ʃ ə n/ (legations )
1 N‑COUNT A legation is a group of government officials and diplomats who work in a foreign country and represent their government in that country. □ …a member of the U.S. legation.
2 N‑COUNT A legation is the building in which a legation works.
leg|end ◆◇◇ /le dʒ ə nd/ (legends )
1 N‑VAR A legend is a very old and popular story that may be true. □ [+ of ] …the legends of ancient Greece. □ The play was based on Irish legend.
2 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a legend , you mean that they are very famous and admired by a lot of people. [APPROVAL ] □ …blues legends John Lee Hooker and B.B. King.
3 N‑VAR A legend is a story that people talk about, concerning people, places, or events that exist or are famous at the present time. □ The incident has since become a family legend. □ His frequent brushes with death are the stuff of legend among the press.
leg|end|ary /le dʒ ə ndri, [AM ] -deri/
1 ADJ If you describe someone or something as legendary , you mean that they are very famous and that many stories are told about them. □ …the legendary Jazz singer Adelaide Hall. □ His political skill is legendary.