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"Toi toi toi" (English: /ˈtɔɪ ˈtɔɪ ˈtɔɪ/)^[1] is an expression used in the performing arts to wish an artist success in an imminent performance. It is similar to "break a leg" and reflects a superstition that wishing someone "good luck" is in fact bad luck.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Origin

There are many theories as to the origin of Toi toi toi as an idiom. In folklore it was used to ward off a spell or hex, often accompanied by knocking on wood or spitting. One origin theory sees "toi toi toi" as the onomatopoeic rendition of spitting three times, a common practice in many parts of the world to ward off evil spirits. Saliva traditionally had demon-banishing powers. Another theory claims the origin to be a threefold warning of the devil (Teufel, pronounced as TOY-fell) in German (n.b. not the French "toi").

Also from Rotwelsch tof and from Yiddish tov ("good", derived from the Hebrew טוב and with phonetic similarities to the Old German tiuvel "Devil").^[5]

Similar expressions

An alternate operatic good luck charm originating from Italy is the phrase In bocca al lupo! (In the mouth of the wolf) with the response Crepi! or Crepi il lupo! (May it [the wolf] die!). Amongst actors "Break a leg" is the usual phrase, while for professional dancers the traditional saying is merde (French, meaning "shit"). In Spanish, the phrase is mucha mierda, or "lots of shit", as in Portuguese (“muita merda”).^[6]^[7]

References

^ "If you hear "Toi, toi, toi" at tonight's Houston Grand Opera performance, don't be surprised". Retrieved 25 September 2015.
^ Libby, Steve (July 1985). "It's a superstitious world: Of black cats, lucky numbers, broken mirrors..." The Rotarian. 147 (1): 30–31. ISSN 0035-838X.
^ Peterson, Lenka; O'Connor, Dan (2006). Kids Take the Stage: Helping Young People Discover the Creative Outlet of Theater (2 ed.). Random House Digital. p. 203. ISBN 0-8230-7746-2.
^ Helterbran, Valeri R. (2008). Exploring Idioms: A Critical-Thinking Resource for Grades 4–8. Maupin House Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-934338-14-8.
^ "Spit Your Way To Safety: Toi, toi, toi!". Forward Association, Inc. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
^ Urdang, Laurence; Hunsinger, Walter W.; LaRoche, Nancy (1985). Picturesque Expressions: A thematic dictionary (2 ed.). Gale Research. p. 321. ISBN 0-8103-1606-4.
^ McConnell, Joan; McConnell, Teena (1977). Ballet as body language. Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-012964-6.

[1] "If you hear "Toi, toi, toi" at tonight's Houston Grand Opera performance, don't be surprised". Retrieved 25 September 2015.

[2] Libby, Steve (July 1985). "It's a superstitious world: Of black cats, lucky numbers, broken mirrors..." The Rotarian. 147 (1): 30–31. ISSN 0035-838X.

[3] Peterson, Lenka; O'Connor, Dan (2006). Kids Take the Stage: Helping Young People Discover the Creative Outlet of Theater (2 ed.). Random House Digital. p. 203. ISBN 0-8230-7746-2.

[4] Helterbran, Valeri R. (2008). Exploring Idioms: A Critical-Thinking Resource for Grades 4–8. Maupin House Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-934338-14-8.

[5] "Spit Your Way To Safety: Toi, toi, toi!". Forward Association, Inc. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2010.

[6] Urdang, Laurence; Hunsinger, Walter W.; LaRoche, Nancy (1985). Picturesque Expressions: A thematic dictionary (2 ed.). Gale Research. p. 321. ISBN 0-8103-1606-4.

[7] McConnell, Joan; McConnell, Teena (1977). Ballet as body language. Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-012964-6.

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+{{Short description|Expression of encouragement used in the performing arts}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
-"'''Toi toi toi'''" is an [[idiom]] in [[opera]] (and, to a lesser extent, [[theatre]]) used to wish a performer "[[luck|good luck]]", usually prior to a performance. It is equivalent to the [[actor]]'s idiom "[[Break a leg]]". The expression reflects a [[theatrical superstition]] in which wishing a person "good luck" is considered bad luck.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=6DUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 |title=It's a superstitious world: Of black cats, lucky numbers, broken mirrors... |last=Libby |first=Steve |work=The Rotarian |date=July 1985 |pages=30–31 |volume=147 |number=1 |issn=0035-838X}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cNhaO6gHeSoC&pg=PA203 |page=203 |title=Kids Take the Stage: Helping Young People Discover the Creative Outlet of Theater |last1=Peterson |first1=Lenka |last2=O'Connor |first2=Dan |publisher=Random House Digital |year=2006 |isbn=0-8230-7746-2 |edition=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=uWDrgGosVcwC&pg=PT24 |page=24 |last=Helterbran |first=Valeri R. |title=Exploring Idioms: A Critical-Thinking Resource for Grades 4–8 |publisher=Maupin House Publishing |year=2008 |isbn=1-934338-14-1}}</ref> The expression is sometimes used outside the opera as superstitions and customs travel through other professions and then into common use.
+"'''Toi toi toi'''" ({{IPAc-en|lang|pron|ˈ|t|ɔɪ|_|ˈ|t|ɔɪ|_|ˈ|t|ɔɪ}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/04-15-10-if-you-hear-someone-say-toi-toi-toi-at-tonights-opera-performance-dont-be-surprised/|title=If you hear "Toi, toi, toi" at tonight's Houston Grand Opera performance, don't be surprised|access-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> is an expression used in the performing arts to wish an artist success in an imminent performance. It is similar to "[[break a leg]]" and reflects a [[superstition]] that wishing someone "good luck" is in fact bad luck.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6DUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 |title=It's a superstitious world: Of black cats, lucky numbers, broken mirrors... |last=Libby |first=Steve |journal=The Rotarian |date=July 1985 |pages=30–31 |volume=147 |number=1 |issn=0035-838X}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cNhaO6gHeSoC&pg=PA203 |page=203 |title=Kids Take the Stage: Helping Young People Discover the Creative Outlet of Theater |last1=Peterson |first1=Lenka |last2=O'Connor |first2=Dan |publisher=Random House Digital |year=2006 |isbn=0-8230-7746-2 |edition=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uWDrgGosVcwC&pg=PT24 |page=24 |last=Helterbran |first=Valeri R. |title=Exploring Idioms: A Critical-Thinking Resource for Grades 4–8 |publisher=Maupin House Publishing |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-934338-14-8}}</ref>
 ==Origin==
-"Toi Toi Toi" was originally an idiom used to ward off a [[spell]] or [[Curse|hex]], often accompanied by knocking on wood, and onomatopoeic spitting (or imitating the sound of spitting). Saliva traditionally had demon-banishing powers. From [[Rotwelsch]] ''tof'', from [[Yiddish]] ''tov'' ("good", derived from the Hebrew טוב and with phonetic similarities to the Old German ''tiuvel'' "Devil.")<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/15158/ |title=Spit Your Way To Safety: Toi, toi, toi! |publisher=Forward Association, Inc. |date=11 February  2009 |accessdate=2010-03-29}}</ref> One explanation sees "toi toi toi" as the onomatopoeic rendition of spitting three times.  Spitting three times over someone's head or shoulder is a gesture to ward off evil spirits. A similar-sounding expression for verbal spitting occurs in modern Hebrew as "Tfu, tfu" (here, only twice), which some say that Hebrew-speakers borrowed from Russian.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/word-of-the-day/.premium-1.542077 |title= Word of the Day / Jook  ג׳וק A grisly load from Russian.|publisher= ''Haaretz'' online, 18 August 2013.}}</ref>
+There are many theories as to the origin of ''Toi toi toi'' as an idiom. In folklore it was used to ward off a [[spell (paranormal)|spell]] or [[Curse|hex]], often accompanied by [[knocking on wood]] or spitting. One origin theory sees "toi toi toi" as the onomatopoeic rendition of spitting three times, a [[Spitting#Spitting as a protection against evil|common practice in many parts of the world]] to ward off evil spirits. Saliva traditionally had demon-banishing powers. Another theory claims the origin to be a threefold warning of the devil (Teufel, pronounced as TOY-fell) in German (n.b. not the French "toi").
+Also from [[Rotwelsch]] ''tof'' and from [[Yiddish]] ''tov'' ("good", derived from the Hebrew טוב and with phonetic similarities to the Old German ''tiuvel'' "Devil").<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/15158/ |title=Spit Your Way To Safety: Toi, toi, toi! |publisher=Forward Association, Inc. |date=11 February 2009 |access-date=2010-03-29}}</ref>
-==Alternative idioms==
-{{Main|Break a leg}}
+==Similar expressions==
-An alternate operatic good luck charm, originating from [[Italy]], is the phrase "''[[Wikt:in bocca al lupo|in bocca al lupo!]]''" ("''In the mouth of the wolf''") with the response "''Crepi il lupo!''" ("''May the wolf die''"). Amongst [[Actor|actors]] "''[[Break a leg]]''" is the usual phrase, while for [[Dance|professional dancers]] the traditional saying is "''[[merde]]''". In Spanish, the phrase is "''mucha mierda''", or "lots of shit".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Urdang |first1=Laurence |last2=Hunsinger |first2=Walter W. |last3=LaRoche |first3=Nancy |title=Picturesque Expressions: A thematic dictionary |publisher=Gale Research |page=321 |year=1985 |isbn=0-8103-1606-4 |edition=2}}</ref><ref name=McConnell1977>{{cite book |last1=McConnell |first1=Joan |last2=McConnell |first2=Teena |title=Ballet as body language |publisher=Harper & Row |year=1977 |isbn=0-06-012964-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=The QI Elves|title=No Such Thing As The Ugly Panda|url=https://soundbutt.com/nosuchthingasafish/episode-62-no-such-thing-as-the-ugly-panda|accessdate=7 June 2015|work=No Such Thing as a Fish|issue=62|publisher=Quite Interesting Ltd.}}</ref>
+{{Main|Break a leg|In bocca al lupo}}
+An alternate operatic good luck charm originating from [[Italy]] is the phrase ''[[In bocca al lupo|In bocca al lupo!]]'' (In the mouth of the wolf) with the response ''Crepi!'' or ''Crepi il lupo!'' (May it [the wolf] die!). Amongst [[actor]]s "[[Break a leg]]" is the usual phrase, while for [[Dance|professional dancers]] the traditional saying is ''[[merde]]'' (French, meaning "shit"). In Spanish, the phrase is ''mucha mierda'', or "lots of shit", as in Portuguese (“muita merda”).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Urdang |first1=Laurence |last2=Hunsinger |first2=Walter W. |last3=LaRoche |first3=Nancy |title=Picturesque Expressions: A thematic dictionary |publisher=Gale Research |page=[https://archive.org/details/picturesqueexpre00urda/page/321 321] |year=1985 |isbn=0-8103-1606-4 |edition=2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/picturesqueexpre00urda/page/321 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=McConnell |first1=Joan |last2=McConnell |first2=Teena |title=Ballet as body language |url=https://archive.org/details/balletasbodylang00mcco_0 |url-access=registration |publisher=Harper & Row |year=1977 |isbn=0-06-012964-6}}</ref>
 ==See also==
-* [[Break a leg]]
-* [[In bocca al lupo (idiom)]]
 * [[Knocking on wood]]
 * [[Spilling water for luck]]
 ==References==
-{{Reflist|2}}
+{{Reflist}}
+{{Superstitions|state=collapsed}}
-{{Superstitions}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Toi toi toi}}
 [[Category:Theatre]]
-[[Category:Opera]]
+[[Category:Opera terminology]]
 [[Category:Stage terminology]]
 [[Category:Superstitions]]

v t e Superstition
Main topics	Amulet Evil eye Luck Omen Talismans Myth and ritual
Lists	List of superstitions List of lucky symbols List of bad luck signs Sailors' superstitions Theatrical superstitions
Africa	Superstition in Ethiopia Buda Gris-gris Sampy Sleeping child
Americas	Ascalapha odorata Bermuda Triangle Brujería Carranca Cooties Curse of Tippecanoe Curupira Djucu Fortune cookie Groundhog Day I'noGo tied Oscar love curse Susto Veve White lighter myth Witch window
Asia	Superstition in India Superstition in Pakistan Superstition in the Philippines Japanese superstitions Superstition in Korea Bhoot (ghost) Chhaupadi Churel Ghosts in Bengali culture Jackal's horn Kuai Kuai culture Muhurta Navaratna Nazar Nazar battu Pichal Peri Puppy pregnancy syndrome Akabeko Kanai Anzen Maneki-neko Okiagari-koboshi Ofuda Omamori Fan death Feng shui Hindu astrology Agimat Albularyo Barang Kulam Lihi Pagtatawas Pasma Usog Kuman Thong Palad khik Takrut Nang Kwak Vastu shastra White elephant Jin Chan Numbers in Chinese culture Yantra cloth
Europe	August curse Barbary macaques in Gibraltar Bayern-luck Blarney Stone Cimaruta Cornicello The Goodman's Croft Himmelsbrief Icelandic magical staves In bocca al lupo Kitchen witch Klabautermann Mooncalf Need-fire Painted pebbles Powder of sympathy Rabbit rabbit rabbit Ravens of the Tower of London Russian traditions and superstitions Superstition in Britain Superstition in Serbia Spilling water for luck The Scottish Play Troll cross Tycho Brahe days Witch post Wolfssegen
General	1 (Ace of spades) 3 (Three on a match) 4 (Four-leaf clover, tetraphobia) 7 (Seventh son of a seventh son) 11:11 13 (Friday the 13th, The Thirteen Club, thirteenth floor, triskaidekaphobia) 17 (Heptadecaphobia) 27 (27 Club) 39 (Curse of 39) 666 (Number of the Beast) Auspicious wedding dates Baseball superstition Beginner's luck Black cat Bread and butter Break a leg Bullroarer Chain letter Cramp-ring Curse Davy Jones' Locker Dead man's hand End-of-the-day betting effect Fear of frogs Fear of ghosts Fertility rite First-foot Flying Dutchman Four eleven forty-four Gambler's conceit Good luck charm Human sacrifice Jinx Hex Knocking on wood Law of contagion Literomancy Lock of hair Maternal impression Miasma theory Nelson Numerophobia Numismatic charm Penny Rabbit's foot Rainmaking Ship sponsor Shoes on a table Sign of the horns Something old Spilling salt Statue rubbing Threshold Toi toi toi Wishing well Witch ball Witching hour
Related	Apophenia Apotropaic magic Astrology and science Coincidence Debunker Divination Folk religion Fortune-telling Magic and religion Magical thinking Numerology Obsessive–compulsive disorder Perceptions of religious imagery in natural phenomena Post hoc ergo propter hoc Questionable cause Superstition in Judaism Superstitions in Muslim societies Traditional medicine Urban legend