Dictionary

cross one's fingers en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

* As a gesture of good luck, from the Christian notion of inconspicuously making a sign of the cross as an invocation to God. * As a gesture of lying, probably from the Schwurhand, a gesture used in some European countries when taking an oath. The right hand is raised with the index and middle fingers extended upwards (somewhat similarly to a V sign but with the thumb on the side). By crossing the two fingers, the oath is thus symbolically broken.

Meanings

1. To put the middle finger across the index finger, especially
   • She was seen crossing her fingers in the wedding photo.
2. To put the middle finger across the index finger, especially: ▸ when wishing for luck, or
   • “Cross your fingers that the readership loves it.” Joy crossed her fingers. 2011, Jayne Addison, About That Kiss, →ISBN:
   • With another huge effort he grabbed the bucket hook again, mentally crossing his fingers for the bolts in the thin plywood to hold. 2012, Anne Holt, Tom Geddes, Blind Goddess, →ISBN:
   • I hope everything turns out OK. I'll cross my fingers for you. / I'll cross my fingers that everything turns out OK.
   • Well, I reckon that all of us Singing Glenways ain't crossing our fingers for you. 2011, Bette Greene, Get On Out of Here, Philip Hall, →ISBN:
3. To put the middle finger across the index finger, especially: ▸ when telling a lie (and attempting to escape the moral and other consequence of that lie).
   • “You focus your efforts on managing your prosecutors and show up to try that case. I'll handle the rest.” Ryan nodded assent but crossed her fingers behind her back. She would do more than just show up. 2011, Carsen Taite, Nothing But the Truth, →ISBN:
   • AFTON: (CROSSING HER FINGERS) I always tell the truth. See for yourself. From the men's doorway you can see that the fjord is empty. 1969, Phyllis McCallum, The Vanilla Viking A Three-Act Play for Children, page 37:
   • He always tried to make sure there wasn't a mirror behind him when he made a promise, and if there was and he couldn't cross his fingers, he just crossed them in his mind and hoped this was as good as the real thing. 2014, Frank Sousa, The Tree of Young Dreamers, →ISBN, page 313:
   • “It's not like I've been having fun,” she lied, crossing her fingers behind her back. 2014, Millie Criswell, Staying Single, →ISBN:
   • Amanda placed her right hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. Her friend Sarah told her if you cross your fingers behind your back when you tell a lie, it's not a lie. Amanda didn't know if she believed that, but she crossed her fingers anyway. 2007, Toni White, Ridge Street Home, →ISBN, page 5:

Forms

Relateds

keep one's fingers crossed · cross one's arms · cross one's heart · have one's fingers crossed

Translations (45)

fr croiser les doigts (put the middle finger across the index finger) · ja 幸運を祈る (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · bg стискам палци (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · fr croiser les doigts (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · pl skrzyżować palce (put the middle finger across the index finger) · it incrociare le dita (put the middle finger across the index finger) · ru наде́яться на уда́чу (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · fi pitää peukkua (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · el κάνω τον σταυρό μου (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · sv hålla kors (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · de die Finger kreuzen (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · pl krzyżować palce (put the middle finger across the index finger) · cmn 祈求好運 /祈求好运 (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · sv hålla fingrarna i kors (put the middle finger across the index finger) · de Daumen drücken (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · lv turēt īkšķus (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · ca encreuar els dits (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · sv korsa fingrarna (put the middle finger across the index finger) · ca creuar els dits (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · pt cruzar os dedos (put the middle finger across the index finger) · de die Finger kreuzen (put the middle finger across the index finger) · sv korsa fingrarna (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · ru скрести́ть па́льцы (put the middle finger across the index finger) · pt cruzar os dedos (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · es cruzar los dedos (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · nl duimen (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · sv hålla tummarna (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · fr tenir les pouces (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · cmn 交叉手指 (put the middle finger across the index finger) · pt cruzar os dedos (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · ru врать скрести́в па́льцы (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · it incrociare le dita (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · fi kertoa valkoinen valhe (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · cmn 祈禱 /祈祷 (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · cmn 說一個善意的謊言 /说一个善意的谎言 (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · be трыма́ць кула́кі (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · pl trzymać kciuki (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · ko 행운을 빌다 (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · sv sätta fingrarna i kors (put the middle finger across the index finger) · fr croiser les doigts (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · sv lägga fingrarna i kors (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · cs držet palce (do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck) · sv hålla fingrarna i kors (do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie) · fi ristiä sormensa (put the middle finger across the index finger) · es cruzar los dedos (put the middle finger across the index finger)