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Meaning
To touch wood or knock on wood is a superstitious phrase used to stave off bad luck, when speaking of your good fortune. In the UK the phrase ' touch wood' is used - often jokingly by tapping one's head. The phrases are usually used when one is already experiencing some good fortune and hope that it will continue - e.g. "I've been winning on every race - touch wood".
Origin
There are a couple of known origins:
- Wood and trees have good spirits in mythology, and with the Christian cross. It used to be considered good luck to tap trees to let the wood spirits within know you were there. Traditions of this sort still persist in Ireland.
Knocking on wood makes a sound that prevents the Devil from hearing your foolish comments. |