Cereal Killers
Forget apples and cinnamon—this infamous “Jack” became notorious for a series of murders in London’s Whitechapel district in 1888. The case remains one of history’s most famous unsolved mysteries.
Jack the Ripper
According to an old superstition, spilling this common household staple is considered bad luck, though throwing some over your shoulder is said to ward off the misfortune.
Salt
Originally marketed as “Chicken Feed,” this iconic Halloween candy has been a seasonal staple for generations.
Candy Corn
You and your coworker are gossiping about your boss when he suddenly walks into the room. As a classic personality hire, you immediately greet his perfectly timed entrance with this common phrase.
"Speak of the Devil" 😈
This character is known for her pale skin, black hair and expressionless stare—and later inspired a hugely popular Netflix series.
Wednesday Addams
This figure is one of the most recognizable characters in Halloween folklore. His name also inspired the mascot of a chocolate cereal introduced in a line of Halloween-themed cereals in 1971.
And, coincidentally, we all attended his birthday party last year.
Count Dracula 🧛🏻♂️
Once associated with witches and the supernatural, this creature has spent centuries being blamed for impending misfortune simply for choosing to walk in front of you.
Black Cat
This term describes a group of witches—or, if you will, a group of strong, ambitious girlbosses.
A coven
Everyone agrees that your idea for Barkitecture this year is super creative and easy to build. One coworker decides to point out potential flaws and argue against it—not because they disagree with the group, but simply to challenge the idea. This scenario could be described by what common phrase?
"Playing Devil's Advocate" 😈
After 300 years, Winifred, Mary, and Sarah are accidentally resurrected in modern-day Salem by a teenager trying to impress a girl in this 1993 Halloween classic.
Hocus Pocus
Lucky is not how most would describe the 30 confirmed victims of this infamous serial killer. He used charm—not marshmallow charms—to convince his victims that he could be trusted. What’s more disarming than a turtleneck and a VW bug?
Ted Bundy
Shatter a mirror and you’ve apparently signed yourself up for this many years of bad luck.
Seven
Many tourists may not travel to this country for Halloween, despite it being widely considered the holiday’s birthplace. But they might make the trip for another holiday. 👀
Ireland 🍀
Your boss gets really intoxicated at a company retreat and starts hugging all the employees. HR takes notice, and when they pull him aside, he begin defending himself with increasingly specific explanations of what happened, providing way more incriminating information than HR asked for. At this point, you could say he is clearly doing this common phrase.
"Digging your own grave" 🪦
These are the names of the three kid-kidnappers who abduct "Sandy Claws" in the movie "The Nightmare before Christmas."
Lock, Shock & Barrel
Quaker Oats made Chicago its home in 1901—luckily, a different home than this notorious Chicago serial killer, who lured victims to his “Murder Castle” about a decade earlier.
H. H. Holmes
According to this rhyming phrase of childhood folklore, the structural integrity of a family member is somehow dependent on the pedestrian habits of another.
If you have done it recently, you might want to call your mother.
"Step on a crack, Break your mother's back"
According to Instacart's Halloween Sweet Tooth Report, data collected from Instacart orders showed that this was the top selling Halloween candy in the U.S. in October 2025.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
After one unnamed coworker wins both the office fantasy football league and basketball bracket back-to-back, the rest of the office starts throwing accusations that her unprecedented wins are suspicious. As a victim of this baseless persecution, she might ironically shout this phrase: “This is a ___!”
"Witch Hunt"
Including the original 1978 film, this many movies make up the Halloween franchise—Michael Myers has had quite the run.
13
You might find a bowl of this graham-cracker-inspired cereal on your breakfast table, sharing part of it's name with this infamous nickname of Joseph DeAngelo, whose crimes spanned multiple California communities from 1974 to 1986.
The Golden State Killer
Friday the 13th is a day that no one looks forward to. Unfortunately, we will encounter it this many times in 2026, which is also the maximum possible number this occurrence can happen in a single calendar year.
Three
This 20th-century performer’s museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania hosts an online séance every Halloween. And no, it’s not Michael Scott, though the two do share a questionable talent for magic. 🪄
Harry Houdini
It’s the Friday before a holiday weekend. Half the office is on PTO, two people are working remotely, and the remaining 3 employees are staring at each other in an otherwise abandoned office. Someone finally describes the staffing situation with this term.
"Skeleton Crew"
Who knew being fired from your job in academia could lead to becoming small-business owners who battle the supernatural, and an iconic catchphrase.
Ghostbusters