Re: [tied] Touch wood

One touches wood to ward off bad luck, or more specifically to prevent the fulfilment of something one has just said: "I've never been to hospital -- touch wood!" (or "knock on wood!" in American English) -- in this case, cancelling an untimely boast lest the gods should make sure that you _do_ go to hospital. In Poland (and I think in Holland too) people often actually accompany the words with a knock on the (preferably unpainted) underside of a table top.

Piotr

----- Original Message -----
From: Che

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2001 12:53 AM

Subject: Re: [tied] Touch wood

Does this "touch wood" mean "I hope we're lucky"? If it does, it's funny to think why some languages have "touch iron" and others "wood". I had only heard this "wood" thing in Spanish. Anybody knows about it? (maybe some kind of Roman stuff?)