crossed fingers
Hopeful hand sign
Crossed fingers—the index and middle finger overlapped—serve as a gesture of hope or a wish for good luck: I've got my fingers crossed for you.
The same gesture, hidden behind the back, supposedly negates a promise or lie: He had his fingers crossed the whole time.
To keep one's fingers crossed is to hope anxiously for a favorable outcome.
Kept out of sight
- behind backOut of someone's awareness
- white lieHarmless minor falsehood
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
- insincerityLack of genuine feeling
loophole · trick · dishonesty · sneaky · duplicity · false promise · escape clause · plausible deniability
Desiring something hoped-for
- optimismTendency to expect good
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
expectation · hopeful · longing · desire · faith · confidence · positive thinking · wishful thinking
Wealth or destiny
- wishingDesiring something hoped-for
- good luck charmObject thought to bring fortune
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
superstition · blessing · auspicious · lucky break · four-leaf clover · rabbit's foot · wishbone · horseshoe
Signal made with fingers
- nonverbalNot using speech
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- emojiDigital pictograph for messaging
symbol · expression · communication · indicating · hand position · interlocking · sign language · visual cue
Stretched or strained state
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- worryTroubled mental state
unease · nail-biting · edge of seat · sweating · jitters · holding breath · trepidation · restlessness
hidden
Kept out of sight
- behind backOut of someone's awareness
- white lieHarmless minor falsehood
- fibTrivial, harmless falsehood
insincerity · loophole · trick · dishonesty · sneaky · duplicity · false promise · escape clause · plausible deniability
wishing
Desiring something hoped-for
- optimismTendency to expect good
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
yearning · expectation · hopeful · longing · desire · faith · confidence · positive thinking · wishful thinking · eagerness
fortune
Wealth or destiny
- wishingDesiring something hoped-for
- good luck charmObject thought to bring fortune
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
serendipity · superstition · blessing · auspicious · lucky break · four-leaf clover · rabbit's foot · wishbone · horseshoe · lottery
hand sign
Signal made with fingers
- nonverbalNot using speech
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
emoji · symbol · expression · communication · indicating · hand position · interlocking · sign language · visual cue
tension
Stretched or strained state
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
worry · unease · nail-biting · edge of seat · sweating · jitters · holding breath · trepidation · restlessness · stress
- superstitionblack cat, broken mirror, Friday the 13th, walking under ladder, evil eye
- good luck gesturesknock on wood, knocking wood, touching wood, blowing on dice, eyelash wish
- fortunelucky, luck, fortune, fate, destiny
- gesturesgesture, hand gestures, applause, hand raise, tap on shoulder
- kidspeakboo-boo, booboo, cooties, gimme, gonna
- superstitionssuperstition, superstitions, hexes, black cats, broken mirror
crossed fingerspinky promise
Interlocking digit oath
sworn oath · solemn vow · hand on heart · blood oath · handshake deal
crossed fingerstempting fate
Risking bad outcomes recklessly
knocking on wood · counting chickens · courting disaster · thumbs down
cross, finger, crossing, fingers, crossed, fingerprint, fingered, fingerprints, fingering