touch wood. what does it mean?

Answer 1

Here's your answer:
http://www.csicop.org/superstition/library/wood.html

Answer 2

To touch wood or knock on wood is a superstition action to ward off any evil consequences or bad luck, perhaps because of some recent action you’ve taken or untimely boasting about your good fortune (“I’ve never been in danger of drowning, touch wood”); it can also be a charm to bring good luck.

The origin is unknown, though some writers have pointed to pre-Christian rituals involving the spirits of sacred trees such as the oak, ash, holly or hawthorn. There is, I’m told, an old Irish belief that you should knock on wood to let the little people know that you are thanking them for a bit of good luck. There’s also a belief that the knocking sound prevents the Devil from hearing your unwise comments. Others have sought a meaning in which the wood symbolises the timber of the cross, but this may be a Christianisation of an older ritual. It wasn’t always wood that was lucky: in older days, iron was also thought to have magical properties, and to touch iron was an equivalent preventative against ill-fortune.

The phrase itself is relatively modern, as the oldest citation for the British version of the phrase, touch wood, that I can find dates only from 1899. The American equivalent knock on wood is roughly contemporary, with my first example from 1905.

Answer 3

It means not to tempt fate. If you say something like I could die, you touch wood so that it won't happen. It comes from the past when the wood in question would be a crucifix.

Answer 4

it is a superstition like not walking under a ladder. touching wood is supposed to add luck and assist the speaker to achieve their statement - for instance, the car wont break down and will get us all the way to town, touch wood. sorry for the pathetic example - am tired!!

Answer 5

People say it when they are asking for luck, so as not to tempt the Fates. It is an old superstition, meaning to call upon the wisdom of the trees.

Answer 6

knock on wood?

its's superstious to keep the little elves that live in the wood to keep from messing up whatever is in the works.

I'll be there tomorrow (knocking) knock on wood.

Answer 7

first class

Answer 8

superstition - better to do it rather than not!