Do you know anyone who is a scaredy-cat? Ever been out at the witching hour? If you are uncertain about any of these phrases, fear not! Today we are going to practice 29 Halloween idioms & sayings that native speakers of English use – not just at Halloween time! Not only that, but we are also going to look at some Halloween phrases, questions, and plenty of examples!
Halloween idioms
Here are some Halloween idioms to practice. Read and repeat them all! Idioms are great for making our English sound more natural, and Halloween is just around the corner (or has already passed, depending on when you are reading this!) Anyway, I think it is a great topic for idioms!
| Idiom idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| To be a scaredy-cat | To be easily frightened or afraid |
| To make my someone’s blood boil | Something makes you really angry |
| To be a pumpkin head | To be foolish or stupid |
| To give someone the creeps | To make someone feel uneasy or frightened |
| To be a dark horse | To be a mysterious or unknown person |
| Ice cold | To be really cold. Also, to be unfeeling, unemotional |
| To be witching hour | To be the time of night when witches are believed to be active |
| To have skeleton in the closet | To have a secret or embarrassing past |
| To be a ghost town | To be a place with no people or activity |
Related: 34 Sentences About Halloween + Halloween Puns: English Guide
Halloween Idioms: example sentences
Here are some example sentences with today’s Halloween idioms.
- Don’t be such a scaredy-cat, it’s just a spider!
- When I see people be so rude to elderly people, it makes my blood boil!
- Tom forgot his keys again? What a pumpkin head!
- That horror movie gave me the creeps, I couldn’t sleep all night.
- Mary is a dark horse, no one knows much about her.
- After being outside in the snow for hours, my hands were ice cold.
- According to folklore, the witching hour is believed to be at midnight.
- He’s a powerful politician, but he has some skeletons in his closet that could ruin his reputation.
- The old mining town is completely deserted, it’s like a ghost town now.
Related: 27 Sayings About Fall: Natural English, Better Speaking!
Halloween questions
Let’s work on our English conversation with some Halloween questions for fun, next! Try to answer them in full sentences.
- What does it mean if someone is a scaredy-cat?
- What would make your blood boil?
- What kind of person would you describe as a pumpkin head?
- How would you feel if someone gives you the creeps?
- What is unique about a dark horse?
- Have you ever met someone who acted as cold as ice?
- When does the witching hour occur?
- What does it mean if someone has skeletons in their closet?
- How would you describe a ghost town?
Related: 29 Fun Christmas Idioms: How To Speak About Xmas
Halloween phrases
Here are some more Halloween phrases to practice our English with. These expressions are often used around the time of Halloween!
| Halloween Phrases | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Trick or Treat | A Halloween tradition where children go door to door saying “Trick or treat” in order to receive candy |
| Costume Party | A gathering or event where attendees dress up in costumes |
| Haunted House | A house or building that is believed to be haunted or filled with ghosts and other supernatural beings |
| Candy Corn | A small, triangular-shaped candy typically associated with Halloween |
| Witch’s Brew | A potion or concoction brewed by a witch, often associated with spells and magic |
| Spooky | Having a frightening or eerie atmosphere |
| Scarecrow | A figure made of straw and old clothes, often placed in fields or gardens to scare birds away |
| Graveyard | A burial ground or cemetery |
| Full Moon | When the moon is fully illuminated and appears round |
| Jack-o’-Lantern | A carved pumpkin with a candle inside, often used as a decoration during Halloween |
Halloween Idioms: more example sentences
Let’s look at some examples of Halloween sentences. Read out and repeat all of them!
- Trick or treat! The children excitedly went from house to house, hoping for a sweet Halloween treat.
- We’re having a costume party next weekend, so start planning your outfit!
- The old abandoned mansion on the hill is said to be a haunted house, filled with ghostly apparitions.
- I love the taste of candy corn, it’s like a nostalgic Halloween treat.
- The witch’s brew bubbled and hissed as she added the magical ingredients.
- The dark and foggy forest had a spooky atmosphere, perfect for Halloween night.
- The scarecrow stood tall in the field, its tattered clothes flapping in the wind.
- The moonlight cast an eerie glow over the graveyard, giving it an eerie ambiance.
- The night was enchanting, with a full moon shining brightly in the starry sky.
- We carved a spooky face into the jack-o’-lantern and placed it on the porch, ready for Halloween night.
Scary sayings for Halloween
To continue our Halloween vocabulary theme, we shall now look at some scary sayings for Halloween!
| Scary Saying | Definition |
|---|---|
| Boo! | An exclamation used to surprise or startle someone |
| Spine-tingling | Causing a shiver or sensation of fear along the spine |
| Fright Night | A night filled with fear and scary experiences |
| Ghostly whispers | Mysterious sounds that resemble the hushed voice of a ghost |
| Shadows lurking | Dark figures or shapes hiding or moving stealthily |
| Eerie footsteps | Strange or unsettling sounds of footsteps |
| Haunting silence | A deep and unsettling silence that feels otherworldly |
| Chills down your spine | An intense feeling of fear or excitement that causes shivers |
| Witching hour is nigh | The time of night when supernatural activities are believed to occur |
| Haunted apparitions | Ghostly or supernatural beings that are seen or experienced |
Scary sayings for Halloween: examples
Here are some examples using these scary sayings for Halloween! Also, try to make your own, too!
- Ghostly whispers filled the old haunted house, sending chills down our spines.
- As I walked through the dark forest, I felt eerie footsteps behind me.
- The witching hour is nigh, prepare for a night of supernatural encounters!
- My friend jumped out from behind a tree and yelled, “Boo!” scaring me half to death.
- The movie was so scary, it gave me spine-tingling sensations throughout.
- Shadows were lurking in every corner, making the room feel even more unsettling.
- The graveyard was enveloped in a haunting silence, as if time stood still.
- The ghostly apparitions floated through the halls, sending chills down our spines.
- Fright night was filled with thrilling and terrifying experiences.
- The chilling wind whispered through the trees, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Halloween idioms: a way to boost your speaking, and not only at Halloween!
I hope you have enjoyed reading and repeating today’s Halloween idioms, Halloween phrases, and scary sayings for Halloween! One thing to know is that quite a few of these phrases are able to be used at any time of the year. For example, we can say “give me the creeps” to talk about a person acting suspiciously who makes us feel very uncomfortable – and that has nothing to do with Halloween. Similarly, a scaredy-cat is someone who generally gets scared – whether that be of roller coasters or ghosts! Thanks for reading today!