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Learn how this phrase came to mean ghosts or other supernatural beings that make unexplained noises at night. Find out the earliest use, the possible source, and the adverbial sense of 'bump' in this expression.
Learn the meaning and origin of the phrase 'things that go bump in the night', which refers to frightening but imagined supernatural events. See examples from 1918 and 1926 and browse more phrases on the website.
Jul 24, 2018 · Learn how this phrase, used to describe ghosts or other supernatural beings, came from a prayer of deliverance in the early 20th century. See examples of its usage in literature and journalism.
Learn about the folklore and pop culture of the Boogeyman and other creatures that lurk in the dark and scare children. Find out their origins, appearances, weaknesses, and examples in media and advertising.
A disambiguation page that lists various media, events and other uses of the phrase "things that go bump in the night". Find out what it means in different contexts, such as TV shows, films, songs and comics.
Frightful, deadly, and usually supernatural things or events that one imagines in the dark of night. When I was a kid, I hated staying in my grandparents' spooky old house because I was always kept awake by thoughts of ghosts, axe murderers, and other things that go bump in the night.
Learn the history and meaning of the idiom "things that go bump in the night", which refers to unexplained and unnerving sounds heard at night. The phrase comes from an anonymous Scottish prayer c. 1800, which also mentions ghoulies, ghosties and long leggety beasties.
