Idioms

spook

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hot spook

slang Someone who is enjoyable to be with. Have you met Dave yet? Oh man, that kid's a hot spook—you'll love him. Why did I ask Mike to the dance? Because he's a hot spook, and I want to have a good time! Who said Meghan was a hot spook? Every time I'm around her, she's miserable.
See also: hot, spook

spook

1. A ghost or spirit, especially one that is or seems malicious. Primarily heard in US. My grandfather says this old house is filled with all manner of spooks, but I don't believe in that sort of thing.
2. slang An undercover intelligence agent; a spy. Primarily heard in US. I worked as a spook in that country for nearly 40 years, gathering intel on every aspect of the government's operations. Everyone knows there are spooks in our country, just like we have spooks countries all over the world.
3. offensive slang A derogatory term for a Black person. Primarily heard in US.
4. verb To startle, unnerve, or unsettle someone or something. Sorry, I didn't mean to spook you! Something in these woods has spooked the horses. I can barely keep them under control! The company's downward revision of their expected sales seems to have spooked investors, as stock prices dropped by nearly 4 points this morning.

spook factory

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Spook" is a slang term for an undercover intelligence agent or spy. The 25-year-old from Wisconsin quickly came to be one of the top agents to come out of the spook factory. After 30 years of service in the field, I'm looking to fall back on a cushy administrative job back at the spook factory.
See also: factory, spook

spook out

To scare, startle, or make nervous a person or animal. Something has got the horses spooked out, that's for dang sure! The new haunted house attraction promises to spook you and your friends out this Halloween!
See also: out, spook
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

spook someone or something

to startle or disorient someone or something. A snake spooked my horse, and I nearly fell off. Your warning spooked me, and I was upset for the rest of the day.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

spook

1. tv. to frighten or startle someone or something. (see also spooked.) Something I did spooked the teller, and she set off the silent alarm.
2. n. a spy; a CIA (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) agent. I just learned that my uncle had been a spook for years.

spook factory

n. the CIA (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) near Washington, D.C., where spies are said to be trained. Tom got a job in the spook factory.
See also: factory, spook

spooked

mod. frightened or startled. The guy looked sort of spooked. He was sweating and panting like someone had scared him to death.
See also: spook
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
But it's Harry and his potential for special relationships and affairs of the heart which will be mostly exercising the minds of many long-term Spooks fans.
Having a party? Don't bring Harry!
This episode sees our hero, Thomas Ward, being trained by another Spook, whose methods are somewhat different to those he is used to.
The Spooks Mistake
It's unlikely that the highly sceptical Gill will take up the challenge offered by another Spook Hunters service: "the chance to investigate the truth behind many haunted locations."
TOURISTS on a ghost walk of Coventry were frozen in shock [...]; redbutton RED BUT / TON Behind with CHILTON
BASKERVILLE HOUSE SPOOK RATING: 3 THE house was built on the former estate of Easy Hill, the home of wealthy Birmingham printer John Baskerville.
BIRMINGHAM'S haunted; Birmingham shudders and shivers with numerous supernatural sightings and it's no surprise that many are linked to notable figures, old buildings and graveyards. Ahead of Halloween, Mailman DAVID BENTLEY checks out Brum's most haunted venues
Vampires, ghouls, spooks and monsters have been taking to the catwalk for the most bizarre style show ever.
THE FROCKY HORROR SHOW!
By the end of the book, with the buggane (a shape-shifter that sucks out a person's life force then feasts on the shell that is left behind) and Bony Lizzie vanquished, the Spook and his young helpers realize they must next fight the Fiend (the devil himself) and contact Grimalkin, the witch assassin, for an uneasy alliance.
Delaney, Joseph. Rise of the Huntress: The Last Apprentice
Mostly they're annoyed that the influence of TV show Spooks is putting fearty females off, due to its habit of regularly bumping them off in the most gruesome manner.
Lindsay Clydesdale ...the last word
Joseph Delaney, the writer behind the successful Spooks books, popped into Bodelwyddan Castle last week to research the building's haunted history.
Spooky books to give away; COMPETITION theatre days out
Thomas is the seventh son of the seventh son following his destiny ( apprentice to the local Spook charged with seeking out those committing dark and deadly deeds and protecting a region from ghosts and boggarts.
Book review
He was bought by Spook Erections and installed at Ingliston market, near Edinburgh, until earlier this year when the market closed and he was removed.
High hopes for return of 23ft Kong
little more than for the smouldering spook who was the main man.
Now we, the public, think we know it all, don't we?
The books feature The Spook (and his trainee apprentice Tom Ward) whose job it is to protect local villages from witches, boggarts and other evils.
Delaney, Joseph: The Spook's Stories: Witches
It's got that same classic look, but the 2010 Heddon Spook now has a couple new sounds to scare up some fish.
It's got that same classic look, but the 2010 Heddon Spook now has a couple new sounds to scare up some fish
But he is writing his series which began with the publica-tion of The Spook's Apprentice - a lad apprenticed to a Spook, an exorcist - and learning to deal with ghosts, witches and boggarts.
Writers get together for launch of National Reading Year; 08 Culture Diary
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