touch of wood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "touch of wood" is not a standard expression in written English, but it may be a variation of "knock on wood." You can use it when expressing a hope that something will remain true or not change, often to ward off bad luck.
Example: "I haven't been sick all winter, touch of wood!"

The New York Times - Food

The New York Times

Independent

Los Angeles Times

Huffington Post

WikiHow

The New Yorker

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Guardian - Sport

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Forbes

Science Magazine

The Guardian - Opinion

The New York Times - Travel

Environmental Health Perspectives

University of California, Berkeley

HuffPost

The Guardian - Film

The Economist

BBC

Vice

The New York Times - Arts

FAO

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

A deft touch of wood.

The New York Times - Food

"I like the touch of wood," Mr. Tramonto said.

The New York Times - Food

A 50-50 blend of syrah and grenache, with just a deft touch of wood.

The New York Times - Food

Every time I approach it I get new sensations: along with a touch of wood, grilled tropical fruits, minerals, camphor, horehound candy.

The New York Times

Inside there's not a touch of wood in sight and just the right combination of sharp styling and clever detailing, such as pop-up heaters that emerge when the roof is down.

Independent

At Bear Stearns, chef Christian Thillet features a daily mix of what he likes to call "Americanized French food". But the dining room could best be described as Spartan--concrete walls with a touch of wood paneling and wall-to-wall carpeting.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The cabin has touches of wood that makes it look a bit like a cabin cruiser, plus red and blue mood lighting.

Huffington Post

Do not build anything that a child can touch out of wood pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate, or CCA.

WikiHow

It goes without saying: every member of the Labor Service was to feel honored by the touch of the wood and metal, the butt and barrel of the carbine in his hands.

The New Yorker

For a classy finishing touch, glue pieces of wood trim to the edges.

Huffington Post

The 60-seat dining room is a West Elm catalog sprung to life, decked out with serene touches of blond wood, hanging greenery and plush midcentury-inspired furnishings.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sensory experiences like taste or smell, use "touch of wood" to denote a subtle yet noticeable woody element. For example, "This wine has a lovely touch of wood."

Common error

Avoid using "touch of wood" to describe physical contact with wood. Instead, use it metaphorically to represent a subtle characteristic or flavor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "touch of wood" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used adjectivally to describe something possessing a subtle woody characteristic. This is supported by Ludwig examples describing flavors or interior design, where "touch of wood" modifies the noun it precedes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "touch of wood" is a noun phrase used to describe a subtle woody characteristic or flavor. It appears primarily in news and lifestyle contexts and functions to add descriptive detail. While grammatically acceptable, it's a less common phrase, especially when compared to "knock on wood". As noted by Ludwig, "touch of wood" can be used to metaphorically represent a subtle characteristic, flavor, or a decoration hint.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hint of wood

Replaces "touch" with "hint", suggesting a subtle presence of wood rather than a physical contact.

trace of wood

Similar to "hint", "trace" emphasizes an almost imperceptible presence of wood.

suggestion of wood

Uses "suggestion" to imply that the presence of wood is subtle and not overpowering.

undertone of wood

Describes the wood as a subtle underlying quality.

element of wood

Highlights wood as a component within a larger context.

fleeting presence of wood

Emphasizes the brief and transient nature of wood's presence.

whiff of wood

Implies a slight and quickly disappearing presence of wood.

nuance of wood

Suggests a delicate and subtle quality associated with wood.

note of wood

Similar to "hint" and "trace", indicating a subtle and delicate presence of wood.

presence of wood

A more general way to indicate that wood is present.

FAQs

How can I use "touch of wood" in a sentence?

You can use "touch of wood" to describe a subtle characteristic or flavor. For example, "The room had a "hint of wood" in its decor."

What's the meaning of the expression "touch of wood"?

The expression "touch of wood" can be used to denote a subtle yet noticeable woody element in a flavour, decor, or sensory experience. It may also be related to the expression "knock on wood".

Is it more common to say "touch of wood" or "knock on wood"?

"Knock on wood" is a more common expression used to ward off bad luck. "Touch of wood" is less frequent and typically used to describe a subtle presence or flavor.

What can I say instead of "touch of wood" when describing a subtle flavor?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like ""hint of wood"", "trace of wood", or "suggestion of wood" to convey a similar meaning.