Spooky Halloween Idioms and Expressions

Post author:Harry
Post last modified:28/10/2021
Post category:English Idioms
Reading time:10 mins read

10 Halloween idioms and expressions to boost your vocabulary and improve your English speaking skills.

Listen to the podcast Speak Better English with Harry or watch it on YouTube at Learn English with Harry.

Harry

Harry is a native English teacher with over 10 years of experience both online and in face-to-face lessons. With his extensive experience in business, he specialises in Business English lessons but happily teaches ESL students with any English learning needs.

10 Halloween Idioms and Expressions

Halloween or Hallowe’en is celebrated on 31st October.

Originally it was a pagan festival when the spirits of the dead were believed to re-visit this mortal world. To scare them off, people wore scary masks and costumes.

The festival is said to have come from Ireland where it is widely celebrated this week. The illuminated carved pumpkins are displayed on the window sills. Children dress up as ghosts, zombies, skeletons, witches and other scary characters. They go around the neighbourhood, knock on the doors saying “Trick or treat!” and get sweets, nuts and fruits.

To scare you off, here is some spooky Halloween vocabulary.

Intermediate to Advanced English Marathon

INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

What you'll learn:
better understanding of more complex grammar structures
advanced English vocabulary words
British & American slang
perfect your listening skills through practing different accents

This marathon is for you if you're:
stuck at an intermediate English level
tired of confusing explanations
a mature student
shy & introverted

skeleton in the closet (cupboard)

Meaning: to have an embarrassing secret about your past, something that a person tries hard to conceal

Example:

The company did not disclose information to its customers because they had a skeleton in the closet.

a ghost town

Meaning: abandoned place (village, town or city) where nobody lives

Example:

There are ghost towns all over the world.

in cold blood

Meaning: to do something deliberately in a ruthless manner, never give it a thought

Example:

A man has killed a kitten in cold blood.

10 Halloween Idioms and Expressions

Share and help other students to improve English skills

to make someone’s blood boil

Meaning: to make someone very angry

Example:

This story makes my blood boil.

to put / stick the knife in

Meaning: to do something unkind or unpleasant to someone, particularly when they are weak

Example:

The manager stuck the knife in when he told me that my hours had been reduced at work.

English Video lesson

difference between Dead, Death, Killed & Murdered

Do you know what is the difference between DEAD and KILLED? Or what is the difference between MURDER and MURDERED? I have created this English video lesson for you: