witching hour

American  

noun

1. midnight.

   a rendezvous at the witching hour.

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witching hour British  

noun

1. the hour at which witches are supposed to appear, usually midnight

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witching hour Idioms  

1. Midnight, as in They arrived just at the witching hour. This term alludes to older superstitions concerning a time appropriate to witchcraft and other supernatural occurrences. Shakespeare and others wrote of “the witching time of night.” The precise phrase was first recorded in 1835.

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Etymology

Origin of witching hour

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Maybe this duo hasn’t monetized their show quite yet, and if that’s the case, perhaps they could choose a time other than the witching hour to record their macabre podcast?

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

As the witching hour approached, a buzzing crowd mingled, played themed character games and snagged official “Iron Flame” merch as they waited to pick up their limited-edition hardcovers at midnight.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2023

Dusk is the witching hour at Accra Zoo.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2023

It was approaching 10 p.m., the witching hour when the hotel’s restaurant, like those throughout the city, is required to close in compliance with restrictions imposed because of the countrywide rise in coronavirus cases.

From New York Times • Sep. 30, 2020

Perhaps, she told herself, this was what they called the witching hour.

From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl