What does "keep your fingers crossed" mean?

To hope for a positive outcome, to wish for success or good luck, to express hopeful anticipation. The action accompanies expressing hopes about uncertain outcomes. The superstition is that crossing your fingers protects you or brings luck. Modern use is more about expressing optimism than literal belief in the magic.

Natives use this phrase and gesture with uncertain futures - job interviews, exam results, important decisions. It's hopeful language that acknowledges you can't control the outcome but you're rooting for success. You'll hear it constantly when discussing uncertain but important events.

You've interviewed for a promotion. Your colleague says, "Keep your fingers crossed! I hope you get it." Expressing hopeful support.

Your friend applied to university. You say, "Keep your fingers crossed for that acceptance letter!" Expressing hopeful anticipation.

In a business context: "We're keeping our fingers crossed that the regulatory approval comes through." Professional expression of hopeful anticipation.

• Hope for: Similar meaning but less ritualistic. "Fingers crossed" includes the gesture.
• Good luck: Different emphasis. "Fingers crossed" is about hopeful anticipation; "good luck" is a wish.
• Knock on wood: Both are superstitious gestures with similar hopeful intent.

• Forgetting the gesture: The phrase usually implies crossing your actual fingers (or at least the gesture).
• Using it sarcastically: "Keep your fingers crossed!" about a doomed situation is confusing since the phrase is hopeful.
• Applying it to certainties: Only use for genuinely uncertain outcomes.

Most common in imperative: "Keep your fingers crossed!" Can use with objective: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the result." Past: "We kept our fingers crossed and it worked out." Present: "She's keeping her fingers crossed for good news." Often paired with "for": "crossing my fingers for a promotion."

Very casual and friendly. Works in all contexts from personal to professional. Hopeful and superstitious tone.

[knock-on-wood], [hope], [good-luck]