Knocking on table?

Question

What does it mean when someone says something and another person knocks on a table or wall? For example in F.R.I.E.N.D.S rachel and ross have the baby and rachels sister says if they die she gets the baby, thy say if we die... and the knock on the table. What does this mean?

Answer 1

its for goood luck, so it wont happen to you.  people usually say "knock on wood"!

for instance:

me: wow i hope i get to go to warped tour, lets hope

i dont get into any trouble in the next couple days

noelle: yea "knock on wood"

Answer 2

It's a superstitious thing, they don't want to be jinxed. Like if someone said someone was going to die, they would go, "knock on wood!" as so it doesn't happen, again silly superstition.

Answer 3

It's actually "knocking on wood".  It's kind of a way of luck or a way of preventing bad luck.  You might hear people say "knock on wood" and they will knock on something that is wood or resembles wood.  Some might even knock on their head as a joke.

Answer 4

"If we die young... knock on wood..." means "If we die young... and I hope we don't..."

It's a weird little American superstition, that if you say something bad will happen, and you don't knock on wood, it might happen.

Answer 5

It's from the expression, "Knock On Wood" (American version), or "Touch Wood" (British version).

People rap their knuckles on something made of wood, like a wooden table, as they say "knock-on-wood" or "touch-wood".  The expression is used when you want your good fortune to continue.  For example, you might state, "My grandfather's health continues to improve ~ knock-on-wood".

From Wikipedia:

     "It is commonly believed to be a superstitious action...to ward off evil...and that it has to do with knocking on a wooden cross..."

Hope this helps.