Don't jinx it
Meaning
This idiom is used to caution against speaking about a positive outcome before it's certain, out of fear that doing so might invoke bad luck and prevent it from happening.
Origin
The peculiar power of the "jinx" first emerged in early 20th-century American slang, drawing its name from the jynx bird, a wryneck species found in Eurasia. This small, speckled bird, with its uncanny ability to twist its head nearly 180 degrees, was once an integral part of ancient European witchcraft, where it was known as a "jynx bird" and used in charms to cast spells or ward off evil. As the word traveled across the Atlantic, its magical, ominous connotations became ingrained in popular speech. By the 1910s, jinx no longer referred to the bird itself, but to the act of invoking misfortune or the bad luck it brought, becoming a universal warning against tempting fate with premature boasts or pronouncements of success.
Examples
- We're almost finished with the project ahead of schedule, but don't jinx it by telling the client just yet.
- I know you're excited about getting the promotion, but let's not celebrate until the official announcement; don't jinx it.