Knock on wood how many times

Most sources agree that knock on wood is the American English equivalent to the British English touch wood, but none shed any light upon why the phrase morphed into this form in the United States. Unfortunately, it seems evidence of the exact origin of the expression knock on wood has been lost to history. Likely facilitated by already held beliefs in the spiritual nature of trees and wood, the ready adoption of the expression and the practice of knocking on wood in so many different places worldwide further obfuscates its origins.

Though we may never know the precise origin of knock on wood, we can certainly agree that a great number of people on this planet consider it good luck to knock on, or touch, wood. Whether you knock three times, knock under a table, avoid tables with legs altogether, recite lucky numbers or utter a blessing, the tradition has the same function. It offers us a small ritual that recognizes the power of spoken words and may even bring some luck our way.

Worldwide Prevalence The origin of knock on wood is debated but its widespread use suggests a powerful underlying belief system that crosses borders and cultures.

Conclusions All of these histories and stories legitimately suggest the reasons why the phrase knock on wood could have become a part of so many lexicons. None of them, however, definitively point to the actual origin of the expression. Join The Discussion. Share knowledge:. Your main interest Etymology Word origins Culture and customs. Author: Word Wizard By words we learn thoughts, and by thoughts we learn life.

Spark Files. Subscribe to stay connected. This phrase is 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. What does knocking on the door mean? The phrase "knock on the door" usually uses "knock" as a verb. Knocking on a door is using the knuckles of the hand to hit a door to get the attention of someone on the other side of the door. He knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer.

You have to knock on the door because the doorbell is broken. What is the knock? Why do we say break a leg? The expression probably reflects a theatrical superstition in which directly wishing a person "good luck" would be considered bad luck, therefore an alternative way of wishing luck was developed.

Where do superstitions come from? A ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle, and Egyptians regarded this shape as sacred as exhibited, for example, by their pyramids. What is a superstitious belief? I got wood. The research suggests that throwing salt, spitting, or knocking on wood can all do the trick, too.

A phrase said while knocking on wood to avoid bad luck. This superstition comes from the ancient pagan belief that fairies and spirits lived in trees and in wood. If the audience stomped long enough, they would break a leg. Some say the term originated during Elizabethan times when, instead of applause, the audience would bang their chairs on the ground — and if they liked it enough, the leg of the chair would break.

Knock on wood is an American phrase that appears around the beginning of the twentieth century. Yet another theory is that people knocked on wood to chase away evil spirits or prevent them from listening in when they boasted about their luck, thereby preventing a reversal of fortune.

Other researchers consider knocking on wood a more recent phenomenon. Turkish people often pull on one earlobe and knock on wood twice to ward off a jinx. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!