knocking wood
Touching tree material
Knocking wood is the superstitious practice of rapping one's knuckles on something wooden after mentioning good fortune, to ward off bad luck: I haven't been sick all year, knock on wood.
The gesture acknowledges that fate might punish boasting.
Often the speaker knocks on the nearest wooden surface—a table, doorframe, or their own head if nothing else is available.
- woodpeckerTree-drilling bird
- oak treeLarge deciduous hardwood
- tapValve controlling liquid flow
- luckChance affecting outcomes
- good luck charmObject thought to bring fortune
talisman · warding off · tradition · fortune · touchwood · protection · superstition · superstitious belief · old wives' tale · omen · fingers crossed · nature · ritual · charm · belief · surface · rabbit's foot · heritage
- customscustoms, customs clearance, wedding custom, customs declaration, burial custom
- folk beliefssuperstition, superstitions, folk beliefs, omens, good luck
- lucky charmslucky horseshoe, rabbit foot, lucky coin, four leaf clover, good luck charm
- compulsionsOCD, compulsion, obsession, handwashing, hand washing
- good luck gesturescrossed fingers, blowing on dice, eyelash wish, dandelion wish, hamsa
- gambling superstitionsgambler's fallacy, blowing on dice, hot streak, cold streak, beginner's luck
knocking woodrisk assessment
Evaluating likelihood of harm
scientific method · contingency planning · insurance · due diligence · skepticism
knocking woodtempting fate
Risking bad outcomes recklessly
hubris · courting disaster · overconfidence · boasting · presumption
knocking woodscientific reasoning
Methodical analysis from evidence
risk assessment · logical analysis · empirical approach · skepticism · critical thinking
knock, knocks, knocked, knocking, knocker, knockers, wood, woods, wooded