cross one's fingers

phrase

variants or keep one's fingers crossed
: to hope for a particular or stated outcome
Owners are crossing their fingers that relief might be on the way.Mike Freeman
Keep your fingers crossed that something will be worked out.Marge Crumbaker

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross one's fingers was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cross one's fingers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20one%27s%20fingers. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster