Book where did that saying come from knock on wood

One explanation states that the tradition derived from the pagans who thought that trees were the homes of fairies, spirits, dryads and many other mystical creatures. In these instances, people might knock or touch wood to request good luck, or to distract the spirits with evil intentions. Told with wit, selfdeprecation, and a rare degree of courage, knock wood is the extraordinary record of candice bergens coming of age. More recently, simply saying the phrase knock on woodor touch wood in the. Of course, much folklore is learned informally, by word of mouth or customary behavior. What is the origin of the custom of saying knock on wood. Knock on wood or knocking on wood is a gesture made to prevent ill fortune or reverse action.

As described in the 1891 book the boys modern playmate, tig is the. Knocking on wood, also touch wood, is an apotropaic tradition of literally touching, tapping. As a statistician myself, i was hoping for a new approach and more information coming from a. Knock on wood where did it come from, whats the purpose.

Other researchers consider knocking on wood a more recent phenomenon. Knock on wood meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. In this clip from the appearance, he performs knock on wood with mitch ryder. It is at once the moving fable of the love between a father and a daughter, of a womans triumph over selfdoubt, and a dazzling journal of american life and times over the past four decades.

Knocking on wood news newspapers books scholar jstor march 2010 learn how and when to remove this template message. Knock on wood is a mustread for anyone who wants to understand why things. What are we really honouring when we say good luck. It derives from the pagan belief that malevolent spirits inhabited wood, and that if you expressed a hope for the future you should touch, or knock on, wood to. The first possible origin of knocking on wood is that its a more modern equivalent to the ruckus that pagan europeans raised to chase evil spirits away from their homes or to prevent them from. Back in the past, people used to believe that the gods live in. Something we say almost every day with best of intentions but little thought. What is the origin of the phrase knock on wood or touch. Hence the saying i hope i win touch wood if you did win the auctioneers hammer gavel which is made of wood would also fall and hit the block.

Where does the saying knock on wood come from and what does it mean. In many cultures, its a common superstition for people to knock their knuckles on a piece of wood to bring themselves good fortune or ward off bad luck. Thus, the theory goes that it was thought that one could simply knock on the. The phrase comes from when in back in the days people belived that bad spirits lived in the wood so they would knock or tap so that the bad spirits wouldnt hear their hopes jayden calderbank. This dates from at least the early 17th century, when it is quoted by john heywood in his collections of proverbs. In his book the lore of the playground, british folklorist steve roud traces. Otis redding performs knock on wood with mitch ryder on. Otis redding appeared on the december 9, 1967 episode of cleveland television show upbeat on wewstv. Knock on wood definition in the cambridge english dictionary. Often it is said following a boastful statement on ones accomplishments or good fortune. Yet while the phrase knock on woodor touch wood in britainhas. Yet another theory is that people knocked on wood to chase away evil. In his book the lore of the playground, british folklorist steve roud traces the practice to a 19th century childrens game called tiggy touchwood, a type of tag in which players were immune from being caught whenever they touched. There probably is some old english expression for averting evil, but it does not come to mind.

Knock on wood phrase meaning and origin the phrase finder. The british version of the phrase touch wood, predates the american knock on wood and was itself preceded by a latin version absit omen, meaning far be that omen from us. To knock on wood was to alert leprechauns that you were thanking them for giving you good luck. The exact origin of the phrase knock on wood is unknown, however many speculate that is could have come from rituals in early times where trees were considered sacred spirits. So why do we feel compelled to knock on wood as an insurance. Where does the saying knock on wood come from and what. In indonesia, thailand and malaysia, when someone is saying bad things, the one that hears it would knock on wood or other suitable surface and knock on their forehead while saying amitamit or amitamit jabang bayi indonesia, choi or tak cun tak cun malaysia. So its possible even likely that the phrase and the. Knock on wood is something we either do or say or both to bring good luck.