Recording 123, page 162
Exercise 3b Read the text and check your answers.
Good luck, bad luck…
1 Touch wood
You say touch wood to show that you hope that what you are planning to do goes well.
In the USA, they use knock on wood, and in Slovenia the expression is moram potrkati.
2 Fingers crossed
You cross your fingers (middle and index) and say fingers crossed when you are hoping for good luck.
In Slovenian we say držim pesti.
3 Walking under a ladder; opening an umbrella; breaking a mirror; a black cat; the number 13; Friday 13th
Walking under a ladder brings you bad luck.
Another superstition says that if you open an umbrella in the house, you mustn’t put it over your head. This may bring you bad luck.
And if you break a mirror, it will bring you bad luck for seven years.
The number 13 is considered to be unlucky, and the date Friday 13th is such an unlucky day that many people will not go on a journey or do an important job then.
If a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck (in Slovenia and the USA), but in Britain black cats are lucky.
4 A four-leaf clover
Clover is a small plant. Usually it has three leaves but some have four.
If you find a clover with four leaves, it’ll bring you good luck. In Slovenia, we follow the same good luck superstition.
5 A horseshoe
It is a symbol of good luck and health. If you find a horseshoe in the road, it is exceptionally good luck.
It is good luck to nail it up over the door because it keeps off demons. The same belief is very common also in Slovenia.
6 The bride’s dress
On the day she gets married, a woman is supposed to wear ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’.
7 A chimney sweep
If an English bride passes a chimney sweep on her way to the church, and the chimney sweep kisses her, it is good luck.
In Slovenia, one is very lucky to meet a chimney sweep by chance. Make a wish when you see one, and the wish will come true.
Many believe that you have to touch a button and hold it until you see a man with glasses.
8 A shooting star
If you see a shooting star and make a wish, your wish will come true.
9 The tooth fairy
British and American children who lose a ‘milk tooth’ (a ‘baby tooth’) will put it under the pillow.
The tooth fairy will come and replace it with a coin. In Slovenia, of course, a tooth mouse performs this important task.