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British slang
Said to ward off bad luck after making a boast or expressing satisfaction.
Safe to use?
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Tone
Casual and context-dependent.
Region
UK
Formality
Informal.
touch wood means Said to ward off bad luck after making a boast or expressing satisfaction. It is best read as british slang associated with UK.
"touch wood" means Said to ward off bad luck after making a boast or expressing satisfaction. In UK, the nuance may be more specific.
Use it in casual contexts where the listener already understands the tone around the term.
"People use "touch wood" to mean said to ward off bad luck after making a boast or expressing satisfaction."
"I saw "touch wood" in a message and checked the context before using it."
"That sounds like "touch wood" if everyone in the conversation understands the tone."
Casual and context-dependent.
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Context-dependent
Lucky or flukey.
Perfectly styled or executed; flawless.
Well-dressed; stylish or formal.
Silly; foolish.
An outfit; a person’s look or attire (short for "outfit").
Unexpected good fortune (literally "breaking the roof").
Our current dataset does not confirm the exact origin of "touch wood". The entry is associated with UK, but that is a usage clue rather than proof of origin. We avoid filling that gap with guessed history.
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
This entry is best understood as British slang. Usage can still vary by speaker and context.
Use caution. Slang can sound too casual or forced in professional settings unless the workplace tone is relaxed.
"Jammy" is related, but the tone and exact meaning may differ. Compare the example sentences before swapping one for the other.
Our entry treats it as current enough to explain, but slang changes quickly. Check recent context before using it yourself.
Slang meanings vary by region, speaker, and context. Tell us if the meaning, tone, examples, or background should be updated.
SlangWatch entries are maintained by the SlangWatch Editorial Team using submitted examples, regional labels, tags, and ongoing reader corrections. We avoid claiming a precise origin or cultural pathway unless the entry has meaningful supporting data.