How do you use "Touch Wood" in a sentence?

I haven't been ill this year, touch wood. Touch wood, we'll finish on time. The car's running well, touch wood. I've never had an accident, touch wood.' *taps table*

Touch Wood

Q: What does "Touch Wood" mean?

Hoping to avoid bad luck; knocking on wood Said (often while physically touching wood) to ward off bad luck after making a positive statement or tempting fate. A superstitious phrase that's become a cultural habit.

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Hoping to avoid bad luck; knocking on wood

希望避免坏运气、敲木头

Esperando evitar la mala suerte; tocar madera

悪運を避けることを願って、木に触れる

나무를 만지며 행운을 빌다 (불운을 막기 위해)

Said (often while physically touching wood) to ward off bad luck after making a positive statement or tempting fate. A superstitious phrase that's become a cultural habit.

说这话时（通常同时触摸木头），是为了在说了积极的话或冒犯命运后避免坏运气。这是一个已成为文化习惯的迷信短语。

Se dice (a menudo mientras se toca madera físicamente) para alejar la mala suerte después de hacer una declaración positiva o tentar al destino. Una frase supersticiosa que se ha convertido en un hábito cultural.

（しばしば実際に木に触れながら）肯定的な発言をした後や運命を試した後に悪運を避けるために言う。文化的な習慣となった迷信的なフレーズ。

긍정적인 말을 하거나 운을 시험한 후에 불운을 막기 위해 (종종 실제로 나무를 만지면서) 하는 말입니다. 미신적인 표현이지만 문화적 습관으로 자리 잡았습니다.

Literal meaning: Physically touch a wooden surface for luck.

Examples

I haven't been ill this year, touch wood.
我今年还没生过病，摸木头。
No he estado enfermo este año, toco madera.
今年はまだ病気になってない、木に触れる。
올해 아직 아픈 적 없어, 나무 만져야지.
Touch wood, we'll finish on time.
摸木头，我们会按时完成的。
Toco madera, terminaremos a tiempo.
木に触れるけど、時間通りに終わるはず。
나무 만져, 제시간에 끝낼 거야.
The car's running well, touch wood.
车跑得很好，摸木头。
El coche funciona bien, toco madera.
車は調子いい、木に触れる。
차가 잘 나가고 있어, 나무 만져야지.
I've never had an accident, touch wood.' *taps table*
我从没出过事故，摸木头。' *敲桌子*
Nunca he tenido un accidente, toco madera.' *golpea la mesa*
事故を起こしたことない、木に触れる。' *テーブルを叩く*
사고를 낸 적 없어, 나무 만져야지. *탁자를 톡톡*

Pronunciation

/tʌtʃ wʊd/

Usage Guide

Context: superstition, conversation, hopes

Tone: hopeful, superstitious

✓ Do Say

Touch wood.
摸木头。
Toco madera.
木に触れる。
터치 우드
We'll be fine, touch wood.
我们会没事的，摸木头。
Estaremos bien, toco madera.
大丈夫だよ、木に触れる。
이대로 잘 되길 바라며
*knocks on wood* Touch wood!
*敲木头* 摸木头！
*toca madera* ¡Toco madera!
*木を叩く* 木に触れる！
이대로 잘 되길 바라며

✗ Don't Say

Some find superstitions silly
有些人觉得迷信很傻
Algunos encuentran las supersticiones tontas
迷信はばかばかしいと思う人もいる
미국에서는 knock on wood라고 함
Often said even by non-superstitious people
即使不迷信的人也常说
A menudo lo dicen incluso las personas no supersticiosas
迷信深くない人でもよく言う
미국에서는 knock on wood라고 함

Common Mistakes

Americans say 'knock on wood' - same meaning
British say 'touch wood'

Origin & History

The superstition may derive from pagan beliefs about spirits living in trees, or from touching the wooden cross. By touching wood, you either summon good spirits or invoke divine protection.

Etymology: From superstition about wood containing protective spirits

First recorded: British superstition, phrase common from 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common everyday British expression; Said semi-seriously by many

Regional notes: British: 'touch wood.' American: 'knock on wood.' Same superstition.

Variations

Touch woodKnock on woodWood touch