In the book "Morality for Beautiful Girls" by Alexander McCall Smith, the author explores cultural expressions and their meanings. One such expression from Setswana is "Stand on your toe," which represents hope for a favorable outcome. This saying serves a similar purpose to the more commonly known phrase among white people, "cross your fingers," both conveying a sense of wishing for luck or positive results.

This comparison highlights how different cultures articulate similar sentiments in unique ways. By illustrating these expressions, McCall Smith enriches the narrative and showcases the diverse ways in which people express hope and optimism in their daily lives.