| Idiom | Knock on Wood |
|---|---|
| Example | So far, the new teacher doesn't give too much homework. Knock on wood. |
| Meaning | an expression said when knocking on wood in order to keep from having bad luck |
| Origin | In England people say "touch wood" when they want to head off bad luck. Although "knock on wood" is a popular expression, nobody today is certain of where it came from. Experts think it may have originated from the time of the ancient Druids, an order of Celtic priests in Ireland and Britain. Whatever the origin, you'll often see people knocking on wood to keep away bad luck or help prevent a change of fortune from good to bad. |
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