knock on wood
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˌnɒk ɒn ˈwʊd/
  • (America) IPA: /ˌnɑk ɑn ˈwʊd/, [ˌnäk än ˈwʊd], /ˌnɔk ɔn ˈwʊd/
Verb

knock on wood

  1. (idiomatic, US) To take a customary action to ward off some misfortune that is believed to be attracted by a presumptuous statement.
    Synonyms: touch wood,
Translations
  • French: toucher du bois
  • German: auf Holz klopfen
  • Italian: toccare ferro
  • Portuguese: bater na madeira
  • Russian: постуча́ть по де́реву
  • Spanish: tocar madera
Interjection
  1. (idiomatic, US) hopefully; a self-directive to undertake the customary action to ward off bad luck.
    I do a lot of walking, and I have never had any knee problems yet, knock on wood.
    Synonyms: touch wood,
Translations
  • French: touchons du bois
  • German: (dreimal) auf Holz klopfen
  • Italian: tocca ferro, tocchiamo ferro
  • Russian: тьфу-тьфу-тьфу
  • Spanish: toca madera



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