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• trick or treat
  trick or treat

  noun

  a children's Halloween custom, in which they call on neighbors, using this phrase, and threaten to play a trick if a treat is not given.
• trick-or-treat
  trick-or-treat

  verb (used without object)

  to become involved or take part in trick or treat.

trick or treat

¹ American  

noun

1. a children's Halloween custom, in which they call on neighbors, using this phrase, and threaten to play a trick if a treat is not given.

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trick-or-treat ² American  

[trik-er-treet] / ˈtrɪk ərˈtrit /

verb (used without object)

1. to become involved or take part in trick or treat.

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trick or treat British  

1. the cry by children at Halloween when they call at houses, indicating that they want a present or money or else they will play a trick on the householder

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trick or treat Idioms  

1. A greeting by children asking for treats on Halloween and threatening to play a trick on those who refuse to give them. For example, The children went from house to house, shouting “Trick or treat!” [c. 1940]

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Other Word Forms

• trick-or-treater
  noun

Etymology

Origin of trick or treat¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Origin of trick-or-treat²

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Harrison, the director of "Trick or Treat, Scooby Doo!" did not explicitly confirm whether Velma's bi or gay in the new film, just that she's attracted to Coco.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2022

Fiona Staples was an artist that I had worked with previously on the "Trick or Treat" graphic novel; it was one of her first jobs actually.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2015

Hebert said all three alleged activities occurred at each of the five clubs during a monthlong undercover investigation he called Operation Trick or Treat.

From Washington Times • Oct. 27, 2015

It was striking to see a reversal of roles on Thursday morning: AS's cover leads on "Trick or Treat"; Sport says "Comeback needed"; and El Mundo Deportivo calls for "heroics at the Camp Nou."

From The Guardian • Feb. 21, 2013

Trick or Treat When he is at home, Ted starts almost every day with bacon and eggs in the wood-paneled breakfast room with his three children—Kara, 11, Teddy Jr., 10, and Patrick, 4.

From Time Magazine Archive