TOUCH WOOD meaning: 1. said in order to avoid bad luck, either when you mention good luck that you have had in the past…. Learn more. Touch wood or knock on wood isa convention to express hope for good luck in something you are doing.Learn the meaning, pronunciation, synonyms and examples of this idiom. 3 days ago ·Touch woodmeaningand global variations The touch woodmeaningis consistent across many cultures, though the phrase changes. Knocking on wood is a superstition of touching or tapping wood to avoid tempting fate after making a positive statement.Learn about the origin, meaning and variations of this practice in different languages and cultures.