It basically means, "I know I might jinx myself". It reflects the awareness that what I say might be "famous last words". Some have considered it a way of "breaking the fourth wall". Great for describing sports predictions. To "jinx" refers to the power that spoken words have of counteracting the very thing they predict.
How to knock on wood:
Goofus: When the Rangers sweep the Canadiens, I'm going to take a week off work to watch the finals!
Uh oh! Goofus here is taking for granted the fact that the Rangers will sweep the Canadiens! But he is not protected from, either (1) the gods who hate hubris, (2) that life is but a stage, and has a penchant for dramatic irony, or (3) the magical power of spoken predictions to influence the world! He is in danger, in short, of being jinxed!
Gallant: When the Rangers sweep the Canadiens -- knock on wood -- I'm going to take a week off work to watch the finals!
See how, by knocking on wood and aknowledging those mysterious powers above, Gallant has not only insulated himself from those magical forces, but also the embarassing possibility of his freinds later bringing up this statement in his face! Huzzah!
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