Meaning & Origin
“Knock on wood” is a superstition used to ward off bad luck after stating something positive or hopeful — as if touching wood protects the outcome. A similar phrase in British and other varieties of English is “touch wood.” The custom may trace back to ancient beliefs that spirits lived in trees.
Pronunciation Guide
- knock — short “o,” like “not.”
- on — reduced in fast speech.
- wood — sounds like “wud.”
- Natural rhythm: knock on WOOD.
Usage & Sentence Examples
Say it right after mentioning good news, goals, or hopes to avoid “jinxing” them.
- The rollout has gone smoothly so far — knock on wood.
- I haven’t caught a cold all winter — knock on wood.
- We should hit profitability next quarter, knock on wood.
- No delays at the airport yet — knock on wood.
- The fix seems stable, knock on wood.
- Kids are finally asleep, knock on wood.
Synonyms
touch wood (UK) · fingers crossed · here’s hoping · let’s hope we didn’t jinx it · ward off bad luck
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