Transcript
Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well. I'm back today with a new short video where we'll look at a French expression together in just a few minutes.
Today, we're going to look at the expression "toucher du bois" (touch wood / knock on wood). It's an expression I really like and use very often.
"Toucher du bois" - this expression is mainly used by superstitious people, those who hold certain beliefs and see favorable or unfavorable signs all around them.
I don't know if you're superstitious, but I'm a bit superstitious myself. I don't like walking under ladders, for instance, and I'm afraid of breaking a mirror because they say you'll have 7 years of bad luck.
I don't like to buy a gift for a baby before it's born, for example, if friends are expecting. I'm superstitious. When you're superstitious, you can "toucher du bois" to prevent bad luck. You ward off bad fortune. "Toucher du bois" protects you from bad things that could happen. You're pushing back against bad luck.
For example, if I'm pregnant and talking with a friend about a baby who had serious problems - maybe a disease or a disability - I'd say "je touche du bois" so that it doesn't happen to my baby.
You might touch a cutting board, but usually you'll touch a table. Oh, I forgot to mention the most important part. When you use this expression, you need to accompany it with the gesture.
So you need to find a piece of wood to touch. Here's another example. I could say: Caroline has already failed her driving test four times, and she needs it for her job.
She's going to get fired if she can't get her driver's license soon. So I'm going to "toucher du bois" hoping she passes her driving test. I'm warding off bad luck.
That was a short one. That's it for today. I hope you enjoyed this video.
Tell me in the comments if in your language or country, there are other little expressions or habits people use to ward off bad luck. If you liked this video, of course, give it a thumbs up, and make sure to subscribe to the channel so you don't miss any of my videos.
See you very soon!