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Knock on wood Posted by on Sep 7, 2012 in English Vocabulary

 

“Knock on wood” is an expression that is often used by English speakers, but it is a very unique phrase.  This phrase basically means ‘I hope so’ or ‘if all goes well’.  Knock on wood is a spoken phrase (it is generally not written) and it is an expression used to express a desire to avoid ‘tempting fate’ or to keep something bad from happening.  This phrase is said most often after a person makes a boast* or expresses a hope or desire.  When a person says this phrase they usually knock on something that is made of wood, or any hard surface that is near by.

Here are some examples of how this phrase might be used:

“I think I am finally feeling better – knock on wood.”

“I won’t be late for work again tomorrow – knock on wood.”

“Are your parents paying for you guys to go to France again this summer?”  “Knock on wood!”

 The origin of this phrase comes from old English folklore.  Apparently a long time ago people in England went into the isolated woods to talk privately and tell secrets and they “knocked” on the trees (and trees are made of wood) when they were talking to hide their communication from evil spirits who might make trouble.  The people knocked on wood to keep the spirits from hearing them and keep the good things they wanted to happen from being disrupted.  Another version of this folklore states an almost opposite understanding of the action of knocking on wood.  This other version holds that the act of knocking on trees was to wake up the spirits to make them listen so they could work in favor of a specific request or secret.

* boast = to talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction

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About the Author: Gabriele

Hi there! I am one of Transparent Language's ESL bloggers. I am a 32-year-old native English speaker who was born and raised in the United States. I am living in Washington, DC now, but I have lived all over the US and also spent many years living and working abroad. I started teaching English as a second language in 2005 after completing a Master's in Applied Linguists and a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults' (CELTA). Since that time I have taught ESL in the United States at the community college and university level. I have also gone on to pursue my doctorate in psychology and now I also teach courses in psychology. I like to stay connected to ESL learners around the world through Transparent Languages ESL Blog. Please ask questions and leave comments on the blog and I will be sure to answer them.


Comments:

  1. Andrea:

    XD, that’s funny because in my culture when you said: knock on wood: toco madera, it always means to keep away something bad from happening, when somebody say something and you don’t want that happened say: knock on wood (you have to knock on it). Thanks for your information, greetings from Colombia