Walk under a ladder
Meaning
To pass directly beneath a leaning ladder, an action widely regarded as a superstitious act that invites misfortune or bad luck.
Origin
The ominous shadow of a ladder, propped against a wall, has cast a spell of misfortune across centuries. Its roots intertwine with two potent medieval fears: the sacred and the profane. In Christian symbolism, a ladder forms a triangle when leaning, a revered symbol of the Holy Trinity. To walk through this sacred space was seen as an act of sacrilege, inviting the devil and breaking the holy bond. A more macabre association links the ladder to the gallows, where criminals ascended to their doom. Passing beneath one became a grim omen, synonymous with death itself. These intertwined fears solidified the act as a powerful harbinger of bad luck, a superstition that endures today.
Examples
- She quickly steered clear, refusing to walk under a ladder even though she claimed not to be superstitious.
- Ignoring the old wives' tale, he casually decided to walk under a ladder on his way to work, hoping to defy the supposed bad luck.