where does the expression'touch wood' to prevent bad luck happening come from please?

Question

I know the Americans call it knock on wood, I am in Ireland and here it's touch wood, but, the question is, where did it come from?????

Answer 1

Meaning

The phrase used by people who rap their knuckles on a piece of wood hoping to stave off bad luck. In the UK the phrase 'touch wood' is used - often jokingly by tapping one's head. The phrases are usually used when one is already experiencing some good fortune and hope that it will continue - e.g. "I've been winning on every race - touch wood".

Origin

The derivation may be the association that wood and trees have with good spirits in mythology, or with the Christian cross. It used to be considered good luck to tap trees to let the wood spirits within know you were there. Traditions of this sort still persist in Ireland. See also - the darling buds of May.

The British version - touch wood, had an earlier Latin version used when touching wood - absit omen!, meaning 'far be that omen from us'. This dates from at least the early 17th century, when it is quoted by Heywood. It isn't clear when touch wood began to be used. It must have been well-known by 1849 though, when The Boy's Own Book published the rules of a children's game that derived from the phrase:

"This game is sometimes called 'Touch-iron' or 'Touch-wood'; in these cases the players are safe only while they touch iron or wood, as may be previously agreed. They are liable to be touched only when running from one piece of wood or iron to another."

Knock on wood - the American version, is known from the early 20th century. For example, The Indianapolis Star, September 1908:

"He is a promising looking youngster, and once we get on velvet (knock on wood!) the New York fans will get a chance to see him in action. When that time comes (knock on wood again!) it is more than likely that he will not disappoint."

Answer 2

The expression is not "touch wood", it's Knock on Wood. I'm sorry, but I don't know where the saying comes from.

Answer 3

I was taught growing up that it came from the catholic church and God. If you "knocked on wood" it meant to let God know that you were nervous that something bad might happen and he should watch over you a little bit more. I was also told, that we should worry about things, that it was God's job and if we worried it meant that we didn't have any faith in God..I still worry...what if God is sleeping and something bad happens? I know that everything happens for a reason...but what's the reason is my question half the time...So send God a reminder now and then and "touch wood"

Answer 4

Tradition said that certain trees such as the oak,ash,hazel,hawthorn and willow had a sacred significance and thus protective powers. Properly these should be the ones touched, but this detail has largely passed into oblivion and any wood is put to use, including jocularly the head.

Answer 5

Knock on wood - means the cross.

Answer 6

To Knock on wood Refers to the druid act of Knoking on trees to wake the nymphs inside for help

Answer 7

It goes back to the fact that wood was used to make the cross on which Christ was crucified. . .

It was believe that touching wood was representive of touching the cross and would bring good luck.

Answer 8

It did come from the Druids, who used to "knock" on the trees to get the attention of the spirits. When I realized the origin I stopped doing it as a Christian.

Answer 9

- knock on wood -- used interjectionally to ward off misfortune