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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

See Examples For:

trick or treat trick-or-treat

She recalls giving out 70 trick or treat bags to children out guising within half an hour one year.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2024

Costumes, trick or treat, carved pumpkins and all that are festive.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 29, 2023

Allowing teens to trick or treat, giving them candy when they ask for it at your door, permits them to have fun without mischief, to run around in the dark for one night without fear.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2022

Quintenz teaches them how to trick or treat on Halloween and organizes a mouthwatering international Thanksgiving where students arrive with dishes cooked at home.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 25, 2021

“Oh, darn,” she says before Mitch even has a chance to say trick or treat.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

Naturally, it now promotes potatoes as a trick-or-treat option—or “trick-or-tater,” as the association puts it—and suggests any number of Halloween-themed potato recipes, such as one for Devilish Potatoes, a twist on deviled eggs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025

Sure, my trick-or-treat days may be long behind me, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy my share of holiday candy every October.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2023

During the daytime, there are more family-oriented offerings available at Kids Boo Fest, including a trick-or-treat trail and mini mazes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2023

Byron as a child could trick-or-treat in the neighborhoods of Hendrick, Gordon and Jimmie Johnson; now he’s growing deeper relationships with his one-time heroes.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 23, 2022

As soon as they’d carried off the boxes the boys had piled up to climb on, they started off after the trick-or-treat group.

From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder