Halloween isn’t just a time for costumes and candy; it’s also a rich source of colorful language. Idioms related to this eerie season can add a fun and spooky twist to our everyday conversations. In this post, we’ll explore 20 Halloween-themed idioms that capture the essence of this ghostly time. Whether you’re telling stories around a bonfire or writing a Halloween greeting card, these expressions are perfect for adding a bit of supernatural flair to your language.
Idioms Related to Halloween
1. Over the Moon
Meaning: Extremely happy or delighted.
Example: She was over the moon with her vampire costume.
2. Make One’s Blood Run Cold
Meaning: To terrify someone.
Example: His ghost story made our blood run cold.
3. Witching Hour
Meaning: A time late at night associated with supernatural events.
Example: We stayed up until the witching hour telling spooky tales.
4. Ghost Town
Meaning: A deserted, abandoned area.
Example: That abandoned village is a real ghost town.
5. Skeleton in the Closet
Meaning: A hidden and potentially embarrassing secret.
Example: Everyone has a skeleton in the closet.
6. Dig One’s Own Grave
Meaning: Do something that causes one’s own downfall.
Example: He really dug his own grave by cheating on the test.
7. In the Dead of Night
Meaning: Very late at night, when it’s very dark.
Example: The streets were empty in the dead of night.
8. Drop Dead Gorgeous
Meaning: Extremely attractive.
Example: She looked drop dead gorgeous in her witch costume.
9. Scared Stiff
Meaning: Very scared.
Example: I was scared stiff by those Halloween pranks.
10. Bat an Eye
Meaning: Show surprise or disapproval.
Example: She didn’t bat an eye at the haunted house.
11. Graveyard Shift
Meaning: A work shift during the late night.
Example: He’s working the graveyard shift on Halloween.
12. Like a Bat Out of Hell
Meaning: Moving very fast.
Example: He ran like a bat out of hell when he saw the spider.
13. Night Owl
Meaning: Someone who stays up late.
Example: I’m a real night owl on Halloween.
14. Not a Ghost of a Chance
Meaning: No possibility of success.
Example: There’s not a ghost of a chance we’ll get there on time.
15. Play Devil’s Advocate
Meaning: To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument.
Example: I’ll play devil’s advocate here and disagree.
16. Stir Up a Hornet’s Nest
Meaning: Cause a lot of trouble.
Example: Bringing up that topic at dinner was like stirring up a hornet’s nest.
17. That’s the Spirit
Meaning: An encouragement acknowledging someone’s positive attitude.
Example: “You decided to go trick-or-treating after all? That’s the spirit!”
18. Under a Spell
Meaning: Captivated by something or someone.
Example: I was under a spell watching the Halloween parade.
19. Barking at the Moon
Meaning: Pursuing something useless.
Example: Arguing about that is just barking at the moon.
20. Saved by the Bell
Meaning: Rescued from a difficulty at the last moment.
Example: He was saved by the bell when the teacher postponed the test.
