apotropaic: adj. Intended to ward off evil: an apotropaic symbol.
[From Greek apotropaios, from apotrepein, to ward off : apo-, apo- + trepein, to turn; see trep- in Indo-European roots.]

I was just reading about apotropaic language in Born to Kvetch. It’s a pretty interesting subject, and it made me think: what apotropaic language do we have in English? The only examples that came immediately to mind were “God bless you” when someone sneezes, or “knock on wood” or the phrase “God/Heaven forbid.” Any others?

I can’t help but associate apotropaic language with superstition and ignorance, but if you’re Christian and not a Deist then you should believe that God is listening and cares (although He probably wouldn’t appreciate “knock on wood” too much). But do you need to actually voice such pleas to God?

I’m inclined to say no. Prayer is one thing (a good thing), but dutifully marking up one’s speech with apotropaisms just seems way too superstitious/unthinking to me. I’m not really down with apotropaic language.