"Knock on Wood" Idiom Meaning, Origin & History | Superduper English Idioms

0:00 - How to Say, “Knock on wood.” 0:48 - Examples of “Knock on wood.” 1:33 - Meaning of “Knock on wood.” 2:32 - Origin of “Knock on wood.” 4:55 - More Examples of “Knock on wood.” 5:49 - Conclusion “Knock on wood.” You’ve undoubtedly heard someone say, “knock on wood,” when they’ve just said something unlucky or unfortunate… … or maybe when they’ve said something boastful, favourable or arrogant. In either case, they want to avoid “bad luck”. You’ll also probably see them looking for a piece of wood to physically knock on, which they will then knock on, or tap, rap with their knuckles. “I hope I don’t get sick while on vacation in South America - knock on wood - because that would suck!” your friend might be telling you her plans for the summer. Perhaps you say something that sounds very arrogant, “I’m pretty good at chess, so I think I’m going to win this weekend’s competition, knock on wood.” “I have confidence that this project will be finished on time, knock on wood…” one of your employees might tell you. As you can tell, “knock on wood” is said right after uttering, saying words that might bring “bad luck”; be it arrogant, pompous, haughty words or terrible, dreadful, awful, unfortunate words. Saying “knock on wood” or “touch wood” and physically doing it is believed to mitigate the bad luck that would surely come your way due to the words you just uttered. This is superstitious, of course, but superstitious people never want to “tempt fate” by doing or saying anything unlucky without somehow cancelling it out. The origin of the idiom, “knock on wood”, is found in Celtic or German folklore that believes benevolent supernatural beings live in trees; fairies, spirits, dryads and more. Thus, people might knock on or touch trees in order to request good luck or ask a favour, or perhaps distract an “evil spirit” from targeting them. As you can imagine, trees play a big part in the folklore and mythology of most cultures around the world - they are some of the most majestic living beings on our planet, after all. The Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India is descended from the tree under which Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, and is thus a site of pilgrimage for believers. In Japan, trees in which kami, or gods, live are called goshinboku, or god trees, and are decorated with shimenawa, or rope made from woven rice straw. In Arabic folklore, djinn, or genies, are believed to live in sacred trees and if a sick person sleeps beneath one, he or she will receive instructions for cure in a dream. Whether or not you “knock on wood,” or believe in good luck or bad luck, or believe in the supernatural, studies have shown that people who believe that they are lucky really are more lucky! “I’m sure your move to Canada will go smoothly, knock on wood, as you’ve been planning for months,” a relative who has come to see you off might say. You might be worrying, fretting over a grant that you applied for when your partner says, “Your idea perfectly fits the small business office’s requirements, you’re sure to get the grant, knock on wood.” “Not to toot my own horn, but I eat very healthy and exercise. I’m sure my annual physical will be fine, knock on wood,” your grandma might say. So, the next time you say something that might bring on bad luck, make sure not to tempt fate by saying, “knock on wood”! You may also want to physically knock on some nearby wood. #superduperenglishidioms #englishidioms #idioms #proverbs