Looking up...
to hope that something will turn out well, often as a way to wish for luck
She crossed her fingers before the exam results were announced.
She hoped very much that she had passed the exam.
Cross your fingers that the weather stays nice for our picnic.
Hope very much that the weather stays nice for our picnic.
Often used when someone is waiting for news or a decision that they are anxious about.
Use 'cross your fingers' when you want to express hope for a positive outcome in a situation that is out of your control, such as waiting for test results or a job interview.
Do not take the phrase literally. It does not mean to physically cross your fingers in a literal sense, but to express a hopeful wish.
The phrase dates back to ancient pagan traditions where people believed crossing fingers could ward off evil spirits or bad luck. The gesture of crossing fingers (index and middle fingers) was thought to create a protective symbol. By the 19th century, the phrase had evolved into a common expression of hope in English-speaking cultures.
The phrase is always used in a hopeful or wishful context. It is not used to describe actions taken to ensure success through effort, but rather to express a desire for luck or a positive outcome.