Halloween, the eeriest time of the year, is more than just costumes and candies. It infuses its own language, filled with mysterious idioms that add a spine-tingling touch to conversations. After all, idioms are more than just words; they are expressions that vividly capture the essence of the spooky season. So, without further ado, let’s delve into the sinister allure of Halloween idioms that will send chills down your spine.
This Blog Includes:
List of Best Halloween Idioms and Expressions
Just when the Halloween clock is ticking and the celebration is about to get spooky, you can scare your friends out with the following idioms. They sure are funny but can be petrifying at times.
S.No. | Halloween Idioms | Meaning |
1 | Ghost Someone | To ignore or avoid someone completely. |
2 | Give someone chills | To make someone feel scared or uneasy. |
3 | Have skeletons in your closet | To have embarrassing or shameful secrets. |
4 | Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret or surprise. |
5 | Over my dead body | Used to express strong opposition to something. |
6 | Pale as a ghost | Very pale, especially because of fear or illness. |
7 | Spooked | Extremely frightening. |
8 | Send shivers down your spine | To make someone feel scared or uneasy. |
9 | Under a spell | Behaving in a strange or unusual way, as if you are under the influence of magic. |
5 More Halloween Idioms to Scare People
Since Halloween is all about being sinister to your friends, so, let’s look at these common idioms that will help you scare the hell out of your buddies. However, you might need to pacify them with a happy idiom later on.
1. Skeletons in the Closet
This idiomatic phrase refers to someone’s hidden secrets or embarrassing truths.
Example: When the politician’s scandal was exposed, it revealed the skeletons in his closet.
Also Read: Understanding Idioms: Examples and Meanings
2. Witching Hour
The phrase witching hour refers to the late night hours, especially at midnight, when supernatural events are believed to occur.
Example: They claimed to have seen strange occurrences during the witching hour last night.
Also Read: Idioms for IELTS
3. Scream Bloody Murder
The idiom ‘Scream bloody murder’ refers to a loud and terrifying scream, often in response to extreme fear or pain.
Example: As the haunted house’s door slammed shut, she let out a blood-curdling scream, crying bloody murder.
4. Bite the Dust
Bite the dust is suitable to refer to someone or something dying or failing.
Example: The competitor’s hopes to win the race bit the dust when he stumbled on the final lap.
5. Graveyard Shift
Graveyard Shift is like working during the late night or early morning hours.
Example: Nurses often work the graveyard shift at hospitals to ensure round-the-clock care.
Explore more exciting reads below:
FAQs
Here are some common Halloween idioms:
Skeleton in the closet
Over my dead body
Blood boil
Dig your own grave
Scaredy cat
Witching hour
Like a bat out of hell
Witch hunt
Blood run cold
Here are a few popular Halloween quotes that capture the spooky and festive spirit of the holiday:
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.” — William Shakespeare, Macbeth
“Every day is Halloween, isn’t it? For some of us.” — Tim Burton
“Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, voices whisper in the trees, ‘Tonight is Halloween.'” — Dexter Kozen
“There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight.” — Unknown
“On Halloween, you get to become anything that you want to be.” — Ava Dellaira
Here’s a list of words often associated with Halloween:
Spooky
Haunted
Ghost
Witch
Costume
Pumpkin
Trick-or-Treat
Zombie
Skeleton
Vampire
Monster
Candy
Cauldron
Goblin
Moonlight
Creepy
Midnight
Ghoulish
Tombstone
Spiderweb
Jack-o’-lantern
Darkness
Phantom
Eerie
Broomstick
Bat
Potion
Howl
Frightening
Here are some classic Halloween phrases:
“Trick or Treat!”
“Happy Haunting!”
“Boo to You!”
“It’s Spooky Season!”
“Something Wicked This Way Comes”
“Beware the Things That Go Bump in the Night”
“Eat, Drink, and Be Scary!”
“Ghoul’s Night Out”
“Bone Appétit!”
“If You’ve Got It, Haunt It”
This was all about Idioms for Halloween and their meanings. Hopefully, next time you’re weaving tales of the supernatural or describing mysterious occurrences, don’t forget to sprinkle in these ghastly idioms to give your stories an extra thrill. To read more about idioms you can check our Learn English page at Leverage Edu.