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Lesson 146 of 240

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Luck on the lakefront in English

Ana and Tasha walk the lakefront on a quiet day. Tasha talks about luck, not a temple.

Tasha tells Ana to knock on wood about the job. Ana looks around for wood.

Tasha laughs and holds up crossed fingers. These lines are everyday luck talk.

You'll say knock on wood, fingers crossed, and break a leg.

You'll also say don't jinx it, ask if luck is real, and ask someone to wish you luck.

By the end of this lesson

Talk about everyday luck on a walk, and say knock on wood, fingers crossed, and break a leg.

  • Knock on wood.you say this so your good luck will stay
  • Fingers crossed.I hope this goes well.
  • Break a leg.a way to say good luck before a show
  • Don't jinx it.Don't say that; it might bring bad luck.
  • Do you believe in luck?Do you think luck is real?
  • Wish me luck.you ask someone to hope that things go well for you

Scene — a quiet path

A quiet path on the Chicago lakefront. Water on one side. A stone wall. A cold sky.

Ana walks with Tasha. Tasha wears her green jacket. Ana carries her tote.

They talk about Ana's job. Nobody talks about the diner jukebox here.

A few people walk by. Tasha talks with her hands.

Ana and Tasha walk together along a quiet stretch of the Chicago lakefront path.

Learn — luck on the walk

Six short luck lines. They are what people say on a walk, not in a temple.

You'll learn knock on wood, fingers crossed, and how to ask for luck.

  1. Ana taps her knuckles on a wooden bench beside the lakefront path.

    Knock on wood.

    you say this so your good luck will stay

    When to use it: Say this after good news, so the luck will stay.

    People may tap a table, but the words are the luck wish.

    Say it: Knock and on can link.

  2. Tasha holds up two crossed fingers for luck.

    Fingers crossed.

    I hope this goes well.

    When to use it: Say this when you hope a plan goes well.

    People cross two fingers, but you can just say it.

    Say it: The last sound in crossed is t.

  3. Tasha gives Ana a playful good-luck flourish on the path.

    Break a leg.

    a way to say good luck before a show

    When to use it: Say this before a show to wish good luck.

    This is not about a real injury, only a luck wish.

    Say it: Break and a can link.

  4. Tasha cautions Ana with a raised palm after Ana talks as if Monday is already fine.

    Don't jinx it.

    Don't say that; it might bring bad luck.

    When to use it: Say this if someone talks too soon about success.

    Don't is one piece, and it means do not.

    Say it: Don't has a strong end sound.

  5. Tasha opens both hands in a questioning shrug as she and Ana talk about whether luck is real.

    Do you believe in luck?

    Do you think luck is real?

    When to use it: Ask this when you talk about luck with a friend.

    This is a yes or no question about luck.

    Say it: The stress in believe is on the second part.

  6. Ana holds her tote with both hands and looks along the path as if asking for good luck.

    Wish me luck.

    you ask someone to hope that things go well for you

    When to use it: Say this before a hard thing, like a meeting.

    Me means you here: you need the luck.

Story — she looks for wood

Watch Ana and Tasha on the lakefront path. Ana looks for real wood to knock on.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. A quiet lakefront path. Water. A stone wall. A cold sky.
  2. AnaSometimes I walk to the lake.On some days I walk to the lakefront.
  3. TashaDo you believe in luck?Do you think luck is real?
  4. AnaI don't know. I have a meeting. Wish me luck.She is not sure. She has a meeting and asks Tasha to hope for her.
  5. TashaWell, knock on wood.you say this so your good luck will stay
  6. Ana looks down the path. She looks for a tree.
  7. AnaWhat does knock on wood mean?She asks the meaning of those luck words.
  8. TashaYou don't need a tree. Fingers crossed.She says you do not need a tree. She hopes it goes well.
  9. Tasha holds up two crossed fingers. She laughs.
  10. AnaFingers crossed. Monday will go well.She hopes it goes well, then talks like Monday is already fine.
  11. TashaDon't jinx it.Don't say that; it might bring bad luck.
  12. Tasha looks at her phone and laughs a little.
  13. TashaMy friend has a show tonight.Her friend will be on a stage tonight.
  14. AnaBreak a leg.a way to say good luck before a show
  15. TashaI'll tell her. Good luck.She will tell her friend, and she wishes Ana luck.

Practice — wood or fingers

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Knock on wood.Drop the Simple English here
    Fingers crossed.Drop the Simple English here
    Break a leg.Drop the Simple English here
    Don't jinx it.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Tasha's friend has a show tonight. You want to wish that friend luck.

  4. What does it mean?

    Fingers crossed.

  5. Fill the gap

    Don't say that; it might bring bad luck.

    Don't ____ it.

  6. Build the line

    Do you think luck is real?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Tasha says:

    Your meeting with Marcus is on Monday.

    She reminds you about your work meeting.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You just shared good news. Keep the luck with the usual line.

    ____ on wood.

  9. True or false?

    You only say this line before a show.

  10. What do you say?

    Tasha asks what you do on quiet days. You come here on some days.

  11. Pick the reply

    Tasha says:

    Knock on wood.

    you say this so your good luck will stay

    And you reply with:

Say it — say the luck lines

Now you're Ana on the lakefront with Tasha. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. TashaIt's a quiet walk today.The path is not busy.
  2. Ana (you)Ask if she thinks luck is real.

    Do you believe in luck?

    Do you think luck is real?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Knock on wood.you say this so your good luck will stay
Fingers crossed.I hope this goes well.
Break a leg.a way to say good luck before a show
Don't jinx it.Don't say that; it might bring bad luck.
Do you believe in luck?Do you think luck is real?
Wish me luck.you ask someone to hope that things go well for you
Next: lesson 147Put it there

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these luck lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your luck lines ready for a walk.

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