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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

knock on wood en · INTJ

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˌnɑk ɑn ˈwʊd/ (General-American)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˌnɒk ɒn ˈwʊd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˌnɑk ɔn ˈwʊd/ Southern US, Midland US
  • [ˌnäk än ˈwʊd] (General-American)

Etymology

From a folk practice of unclear origin.

Meanings

  1. (Philippines, US, idiomatic) Hopefully; a self-directive to undertake the customary action to ward off bad luck.
    • I do a lot of walking, and I have never had any knee problems yet, knock on wood.

Relateds

burn bread

Synonyms

touch wood

Translations (27)

tr tahtaya vur (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · hu lekopogom (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · az göz dəyməsin (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · fi koputa puuta (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · sv peppar peppar (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · nn bank i bordet (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · it tocchiamo ferro (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · sv peppar, peppar, ta i trä (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · he חמסה חמסה (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · ca toca ferro (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · he חמסה חמסה חמסה (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · de (dreimal) auf Holz klopfen (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · nn tvi tvi (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · ms choi (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · ca toca fusta (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · it tocca ferro (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · pl odpukać (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · ru тьфу-тьфу (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · ceb simbako (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · yue 大吉利市 (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · id amit-amit (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · es toca madera (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · he טפו טפו (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · fr touchons du bois (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · ru тьфу-тьфу-тьфу (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · da 7-9-13 (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action) · he טפו טפו טפו (hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action)

knock on wood en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˌnɑk ɑn ˈwʊd/ (General-American)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˌnɒk ɒn ˈwʊd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˌnɑk ɔn ˈwʊd/ Southern US, Midland US
  • [ˌnäk än ˈwʊd] (General-American)

Etymology

From a folk practice of unclear origin.

Meanings

  1. (Philippines, US, idiomatic) To take a customary action to ward off some misfortune that is believed to be attracted by a presumptuous statement.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
knocks on wood Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
knocked on wood Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
knocked on wood Tense=Past lexicographic
knocking on wood Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

touch wood

Translations (20)

nl afkloppen (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · pl odpukać w niemalowane drewno (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · es tocar madera (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · pt bater na madeira (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · ca tocar ferro (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · hu lekopog (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · sv peppar, peppar, ta i trä (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · sh ку̏цнути у др̏во (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · de auf Holz klopfen (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · ro bate în lemn (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · da banke under bordet (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · nl hout vasthouden (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · it toccare ferro (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · fr toucher du bois (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · no banke i bordet (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · fi koputtaa puuta (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · id amit-amit (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · sh kȕcnuti u dȑvo (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · et vastu puud koputama (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune) · ca tocar fusta (to take a customary action to ward off misfortune)