Keep your fingers crossed

Definition

To hope for good luck or a positive outcome; to wish someone well in their endeavors.

Etymology

This phrase evolved from the physical gesture of crossing fingers, rooted in early Christian belief that the cross shape would bring divine protection and favor. The expression became common in the 20th century as a way to express hope and support without necessarily making the physical gesture.

Kelly Says

Unlike 'cross your fingers,' this version is often used when expressing hope for someone else's success, making it more social and supportive. It's become so common that many people use it without any religious connotation, showing how superstitious practices can evolve into simple expressions of goodwill.

Translations

ARالعربية
إمسك أصابعك
im.sik ʔaṣ.ā.bɛʔ.k
BNবাংলা
আঙ্গুল মেলাও
aŋ.gul me.la.o
CSČeština
drž prsty zkřížené
dɾ̩ʒ pr̩sti zkɾiːʒɛne
DADansk
hold tommelfingre
hʌl ˈtɔm.əl.fɪŋ.ɡə
DEDeutsch
drücke die Daumen
dʁʏkə diː ˈdaʊmən
ELΕλληνικά
κράτα τα δάχτυλά σου
kra.ta ta ˈðax.ti.la su
ESEspañol
cruza los dedos
kruˈθa los ˈdeðos
FAفارسی
انگشتانت را ببند
aŋ.ʃe.tɑn.t rɑ bɛ.bɛnd
FISuomi
pidä peukalot ristissä
pidæ peu.kɑ.lot ˈristːis
FRFrançais
croise les doigts
kʁwɑz le dwɑ
HEעברית
תפלל
tif.lal
HIहिन्दी
अंगूठे को मोड़ लें
aŋ.gū.ṭhe ko moṛ len
HUMagyar
tartsd az ujjaidat keresztbe
tɑr.t͡ʃd ɒz uj.jɒ.idɒt kɛ.rɛst.bɛ
IDBahasa Indonesia
silangkan jari
si.laŋ.kan ʤa.ri
ITItaliano
incrocia le dita
inˈkroːtʃa le ˈdiː.ta
JA日本語
指を組む
yubi o kumu
KO한국어
손가락을 꼬아라
son.gal.ŭl kko.a.ra
MSBahasa Melayu
silangkan jari
si.laŋ.kan ʤa.ri
NLNederlands
houd je duimen gekruist
hoʊd je ˈdœy.mən ɣəˈkrœy.st
NONorsk
hold tommelen
hʌl ˈtɔ.məl.ən
PLPolski
trzymaj palce skrzyżowane
tʂɨ.maj ˈpal.t͡sɛ skʂɨˈʐɔ.vanɛ
PTPortuguês
cruze os dedos
kɾuˈzi ʊz ˈde.duʃ
RORomână
ține degetele încrucișate
t͡sine deˈdʒete.le ɨnkru.t͡ʃiˈʃate
RUРусский
перекрестите пальцы
pɛ.rʲɛ.krɛs.tʲiːtʲ ˈpalʲ.t͡sɨ
SVSvenska
håll tummarna
hoːl ˈtʉm.nar
TAதமிழ்
விரல்களை ஒன்றாக வை
viralkaḷai oṉṟāk vɛi
TEతెలుగు
వేళ్లు కలిపి ఉంచు
vēḷ.lu kali.pi un.du
THไทย
ขอขอบคุณ
kʰɔː kʰɔːp kʰun
TRTürkçe
parmaklarını çapraz tut
pɑɾ.mɑk.lɑɾ.ɯn ʧɑp.ɾɑz tut
UKУкраїнська
тримай палці схрещені
tʂɨ.maj ˈpal.t͡sʲi sxreʃ.t͡ʃe.ni
URاردو
انگوٹھے کر لے
aŋ.gu.ṭhe kar le
VITiếng Việt
ngón tay chéo
ŋoŋ tɐj tɕɛw
ZH中文
交叉手指
jiāo chā shǒu zhǐ

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