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

I've never had a car accident, touch wood. The project is going well, touch wood. Touch wood, we should finish on time.

Touch wood

Q: What does "Touch wood" mean?

Said to ward off bad luck after a hopeful statement. A superstitious expression used after saying something optimistic to prevent jinxing it. Often accompanied by actually touching wood.

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

Meaning: Said to ward off bad luck after a hopeful statement.

说完乐观的话后用来避免厄运的迷信用语

Se dice para alejar la mala suerte tras una afirmación esperanzadora.

縁起の良いことを言った後に、悪い運を避けるために言うおまじない

불운을 피하길 바라며; 나무를 두드리며

A superstitious expression used after saying something optimistic to prevent jinxing it. Often accompanied by actually touching wood.

一种迷信说法，在说了乐观的话之后使用，以防止说了之后反而不灵。通常伴随着真正触摸木头的动作。

Expresión supersticiosa que se usa después de decir algo optimista para no gafarlo. A menudo se acompaña tocando madera de verdad.

楽観的なことを言った後に、それを台無しにしないよう使う迷信的な表現。実際に木に触れる動作を伴うことが多い。

긍정적인 말을 한 후 불운을 막기 위해 (종종 실제로 나무를 만지면서) 하는 말입니다. 운명을 시험한 후의 미신적 표현이 문화적 습관으로 자리 잡았습니다.

Literal meaning: Physically touch something wooden

Examples

I've never had a car accident, touch wood.
我从没出过车祸，摸摸木头。
Nunca he tenido un accidente de coche, toco madera.
車の事故を起こしたことがないんだ、タッチウッド。
차 사고를 낸 적이 없어, 터치 우드.
The project is going well, touch wood.
项目进展顺利，摸摸木头。
El proyecto va bien, toco madera.
プロジェクトはうまくいってるよ、タッチウッド。
프로젝트가 잘 되고 있어, 터치 우드.
Touch wood, we should finish on time.
摸摸木头，我们应该能按时完成。
Toco madera, deberíamos terminar a tiempo.
タッチウッド、予定通りに終わるはず。
터치 우드, 예정대로 끝낼 수 있을 거야.

Pronunciation

/tʌtʃ wʊd/

Usage Guide

Context: superstition, hope, luck

Tone: hopeful, slightly superstitious

✓ Do Say

Touch wood
摸摸木头
toco madera
タッチウッド
터치 우드
Touch wood it stays that way
希望一直这样好下去
toco madera para que siga así
このままうまくいきますように
이대로 잘 되길 바라며

✗ Don't Say

Americans say 'knock on wood'
美国人说 knock on wood
En Estados Unidos se dice knock on wood
アメリカでは knock on wood と言う
미국에서는 knock on wood라고 함

Common Mistakes

British say 'touch wood'; Americans say 'knock on wood'

Origin & History

Possibly from pagan beliefs about spirits living in trees, or Christian association with the wooden cross.

Etymology: Ancient superstition, possibly pagan or Christian

First recorded: 19th century in print

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common superstition

Regional notes: British/Irish/Australian say 'touch wood'; Americans say 'knock on wood.'

Variations

Touch woodKnock on wood (American)