knock on wood

Some people say, “Knock on wood,” and then knock on something made of wood for good luck, when they have made a remark that has been true up to that point and they want it to continue to be true: “I've never had an accident yet, knock on wood.”

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Notes

The expression alludes to an ancient superstition that touching wood would ward off evil spirits.

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Idioms and Phrases

Also, touch wood . Express a wish that something will or will not occur, as in This last round of treatment should have cured her, knock on wood . This expression alludes to an ancient superstition that literally knocking on or touching wood will ward off evil spirits. [c. 1900]

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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