He was limping at his broken leg.

[Kii]

At

From Oxford Languages and Google, it expresses a particular state or condition and has this as an example: placed them at a serious disadvantage. Then, is this sentence correct?

He was limping at his broken leg.

 

[emsr2d2]

No. The preposition "at" collocates correctly with "an advantage", as in the dictionary example. It doesn't collocate with "limp".

He was limping on his broken leg.
He was limping because he had a broken leg.
He was limping due to his broken leg.

*It should be noted that most people can't actually walk at all on a broken leg so he's unlikely to be limping. He might have a limp because he broke his leg in the past but has now recovered.

 

[Skrej]

'Limping with his broken leg' is yet another alternative.

The first one of emsr's alternatives does suggest the unlikely possibility of putting weight directly on the broken leg. However, I think the others, as well as mine, allow for the possibility of an awkward limp/hobble while trying to avoid putting weight on the actual broken leg.

 

[Kii]

Would it be correct to say that he was devastated at his broken leg?

 

[emsr2d2]

Would it be correct to say that he was devastated at his broken leg?

At a push, I'll say yes. However, it's not very natural.

He was devastated to have broken his leg.
He was devastated because he'd broken his leg.

 

[jutfrank]

Can you explain why you're thinking of a broken leg? Are you thinking that a broken leg is a state or condition?

 

[Skrej]

It's been a rough couple of days here at Using English General Trauma. We've seen all sorts of issues come through the forum doors lately - broken legs, black eyes, liver problems, antibiotic abuse, and recreational drug use questions.

 

[Kii]

Can you explain why you're thinking of a broken leg? Are you thinking that a broken leg is a state or condition?

Yes. Am I wrong?

 

[Tarheel]

If you have a broken leg that means you're injured. That's a condition.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes. Am I wrong?

That isn't the kind of state or condition that the dictionary is talking about. If you want to understand the meaning and use of at, forget about broken legs and look at some more example sentences.