stretch one's legs


stretch (one's) legs

To stand or walk to help relieve stiffness in one's legs, usually from sitting for a prolonged period of time. Let's stop off at this rest area for a while. After three hours of driving, I'm sure everyone would like to stretch their legs a bit.See also: leg, stretch

stretch one's legs

Stand up or go for a walk, especially after a prolonged period of sitting. For example, Let's go stretch our legs at intermission. [c. 1600] See also: leg, stretch

stretch one's legs, to

To stand up or go for a walk in order to relieve muscular stiffness or for the exercise. This term has been around since the seventeenth century. Izaak Walton used it in The Compleat Angler (1653): “I have stretch’d my legs up Tottenham Hill to overtake you.”See also: stretch