Build success beyond the classroom: Critical thinking and assessment

Halloween is a great time to watch scary movies, tell ghost stories and learn new English expressions. But did you know that many English phrases are connected to fear, ghosts and the supernatural?

Some of these expressions are used all year, not just at Halloween. Learning them can help you understand conversations, books, movies and everyday English.

Here are some Halloween-related idioms and expressions, with simple meanings and examples to help you use them.

1. Scared to death

This expression means being extremely frightened. It does not mean that someone actually dies. 

Example: The sudden noise scared me to death.

You can use this phrase when something gives you a big fright, such as a scary movie or an unexpected noise.

2. Give someone the creeps

If something gives you the creeps, it makes you feel uncomfortable or afraid. 

Example: That old doll gives me the creeps.

You might use this expression to describe an unusual place or something that makes you feel uneasy.

3. Make your blood run cold

This expression describes something that makes you feel very frightened. 

Example: The story about the haunted house made my blood run cold.

It is often used when talking about frightening news, stories or experiences.

4. A ghost town

A ghost town is a place where very few people live or go. It can also describe a place that is unusually empty. 

Example: The shopping mall was a ghost town on Sunday morning.

Although this phrase sounds like it belongs in a scary story, people use it in everyday conversations.

5. Come back to haunt you

This expression means that something from your past causes problems for you later.

Example: If you do not study for your exam, your decision could come back to haunt you.

The phrase is often used when talking about mistakes, poor decisions or things people wish they had done differently.

6. Skeletons in the closet

This idiom means having secrets that someone does not want other people to discover.

Example: The politician was worried that reporters would find the skeletons in his closet.

The phrase is connected to Halloween imagery, but it is often used when discussing personal secrets or hidden problems.

7. Like a bat out of hell

This expression describes someone or something moving extremely fast. 

Example: When the teacher said the lesson was over, the students ran out like bats out of hell.

It is an informal phrase, so it is best used in casual conversations rather than formal writing.

8. Witching hour

The witching hour traditionally refers to a late-night time when supernatural events are believed to happen.

Today, people may also use it humorously to describe a time when strange things happen or when someone becomes unusually active or difficult to manage. 

Example: The baby always wakes up around midnight, so we call it the witching hour.

The exact time associated with this expression can vary depending on the story or tradition.

9. Dead tired

If you are dead tired, you are extremely tired. The word dead adds emphasis to the expression. 

Example: I was dead tired after working all day.

This is a useful everyday expression, especially when talking to friends or family.

You don't need to wait until Halloween to use them. Many of these idioms are common in everyday English, so practise them throughout the year to build your vocabulary and feel more confident when speaking.

Halloween is a fun opportunity to bring something different into the classroom. It gives students a chance to learn new vocabulary, practise English and explore traditions and stories.

Here are some simple Halloween classroom ideas for students of different ages and English levels.

1. Learn Halloween vocabulary

Start with some common Halloween words. You could introduce words such as pumpkin, costume, witch, ghost, spider, skeleton, haunted house, monster and bat.

For younger students, use pictures, actions or simple definitions to help them understand the words.

With older students, go beyond basic vocabulary. Ask them to find adjectives to describe a Halloween scene, such as mysterious, frightening, creepy, strange or unusual. They could then write short descriptions using the new words.

2. Create a Halloween story

Give students a few Halloween words and ask them to create a short story.

For younger learners, give them five words such as ghost, pumpkin, forest, cat and door. They can create a simple story using the words.

Older students can take this further. Give them a story opening, such as: “When I opened the door, I immediately knew something was wrong…”

Ask them to continue the story. You could challenge them to include a twist at the end or tell the story from the point of view of a different character.

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