crickets
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Used alone or in metaphorically descriptive phrases: absolute silence where meaningful sound is expected; lack of response; no communication.
Register: humorous, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
to hear crickets
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “crickets” mean?
Used alone or in metaphorically descriptive phrases: absolute silence where meaningful sound is expected; lack of response; no communication.
Is “crickets” formal or informal?
crickets is generally humorous, slang.