Meaning of Idiom ‘Go Legit’
To go legit means to start behaving honestly after a period of illegal activity. 1Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.
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Usage
This idiom especially refers to business activities, such when a person sells goods on the black market, avoids taxes, or launders money and then begins engaging in legal business, which is sometimes called ‘above board.’
Examples of Use
“After laundering money for the mob for twenty years, he decided to go legit. The mob was not happy with his decision.”
“His family had been moonshiners for generations. He was the first who wanted to go legit.”
“Uncle Kenny claims he’s gone legit but a leopard can’t change its spots.”
Origin
Legit began in the 1800s as an abbreviation for ‘a legitimate actor,’ referring to one who acted in a legitimate theater, i.e. one that featured serious plays and conventional drama. 2Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.
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Sources
| 1, 2. | ↲ | Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010. |