for example:
Blowing on dice before rolling.
Wearing lucky socks to an exam.
Choosing the third scratch lottery ticket from the left.
Standing on one leg while rolling up the rim to win.
The phrase is right on the tip of my tongue – good luck…. charm? ….superstition? I’m stuck!
Superstitious is what I’d call it! The object (the dice or the socks) would be a lucky charm, standing on one leg or the act of blowing on the dice would be ritual, and the belief that those objects or rituals are good luck is superstition.
going outside the box. willing to take a chance on something that has no real connection with what you are actually engaged in