touch wood
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.54 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Touching wood possibly has reference to (a) the cross, or (b) the altar rails in days when criminals could take sanctuary in churches."
- "Very few patients for whom I provided psychiatric treatment ended their lives by suicide, but I became increasingly convinced that my residency instructor who touched wood because none of his patients had killed themselves had not been treating many seriously mentally ill patients for any extended period of time."
- "Examples of rituals include touching wood, repeating phrases in your mind, wearing lucky clothes or jewellery, and avoiding unlucky numbers, out of a faulty belief that these rituals will stop unfortunate or tragic events befalling yourself or your loved ones."
- "And the reds are going to avoid relegation this year, touch wood."
- "If it′s ever me (Jesus Christ, touch wood!), I don′t want you bringing me flowers."
- "The English press has been very good to me, touch wood."
Etymology
Usage
- British usage
- Australian usage
- Indian usage
- New Zealand usage