Give somebody the creeps Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Response Describes immediate emotional reaction, often negative or unsettling. Seeing the abandoned house at night gives me the creeps. Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Use Common in casual conversation, not suitable for formal contexts. She avoided the old portrait; it gave her the creeps. Pro Tip 3/3Personal Feeling Subjective sensation, varies from person to person. Clowns are supposed to be funny, but they give me the creeps.