things that go bump in the night

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English

Pronunciation

Noun

things that go bump in the night pl (plural only)

  1. (informal, humorous) Frightening imagined creatures; ghosts or other supernatural beings.
    • 1911, Harriott Ely Fansler, Types of prose narratives: A text-book for the story writer, page 43:
      "From Ghaisties, Ghoulies, and Long-Leggity Beasties, and Things That Go Bump in the Night - Good Lord Deliver us."
    • 1940, "Life on the Newsfronts of the World," Life Magazine, 7 Oct., p. 32:
      Hellish new noises from new and secret British anti-aircraft devices vibrated last week through the din of London bombings. . . . hey must have reminded Londoners of the old litany:
      From ghoulies and ghosties,
      Long leggety beasties
      And things that go bump in the night
      Good Lord, deliver us.
    • 1961 October 27, May Mackintosh, “If I Were a Witch”, in The Glasgow Herald, page 7:
      But most of all I recall the haunting magic of the lanterns and the whispered tales of ghosties, goblins, and things that go bump in the night with which we tried to frighten each other.

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