knock on wood
knock on wood - Avoid misfortune and/or hope for good luck. This magical formula, put as touch wood in Great Britain, is based on the superstition that touching or rapping on anything wooden will avoid a disaster, especially after one has boasted. “Touch wood, it’s sure to come good,” is the proverbial saying. There may have been an ancient religious significance to the gesture, perhaps from the time of the Druids, who regarded certain trees as sacred, but the precise meaning has been forgotten.
Related and Similar Terms
- Touch wood: The British equivalent of “knock on wood”.
- Jinx: To bring bad luck, usually by talking about something that one hopes will or will not happen.
- Cross your fingers: Hope intensely for something to happen.
Synonyms
- Knock on wood
- Touch wood
- Cross fingers
Antonyms
- Invoke bad luck
- Speak of the devil
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “I knocked on wood, and all I got was a splinter.”
- “If knocking on wood keeps the bad things away, my house should be catastrophe-proof.”
Proverbs
- “Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.”
- “Fortune favors the bold.”
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Book: “The Celts: A History” by Peter Berresford Ellis – for some background on Druid beliefs.
- Movie: “Burn After Reading” – lots of plans going wrong despite best (and ridiculous) precautions.
- Song: “Knock on Wood” by Eddie Floyd – an ode to keeping luck on your side.
- Poetry: “A Lummox in Wood” by John Evelynwood – a humorous take on the perils of relying on superstitions.
### Which of these superstitions involves wood?
- [x] Knock on wood
- [ ] Carrying a rabbit's foot
- [ ] Breaking a mirror
- [ ] Finding a four-leaf clover
> **Explanation:** "Knock on wood" is the only superstition listed that actively involves wood. The others are definitely well-known but don't involve wood.
### True or False: 'Touch wood' is another expression for 'knock on wood'.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. In British English, "touch wood" is commonly used instead of "knock on wood."
### Which practice is meant to avoid misfortune?
- [x] Crossing your fingers
- [ ] Opening an umbrella indoors
- [ ] Spilling salt
- [ ] Walking under a ladder
> **Explanation:** "Crossing your fingers" is actively done to avoid or hope to divert misfortune. The others are commonly associated with bringing bad luck.
### Select the practice that you would do to confess something indirectly.
- [ ] Knock on wood
- [x] Speak of the devil
- [ ] Walk under a ladder
- [ ] Break a mirror
> **Explanation:** "Speak of the devil" is often used when someone appears just after being mentioned. It indirectly communicates the arrival or presence of a person.
Farewell and remember, while superstitions might just be figments of imagination, a little fun and hope sprinkled into your day can change your world. 🌟
