creepy-crawly

plural creepy-crawlies

1. informalAny small crawling animal such as a spider, insect or worm that is unpleasant.

   Many experts believe there is a clear environmental benefit to humans eating creepy-crawlies.

   2013 March 2, Tracy McVeigh, “Insects could be the planet's next food source… even if that gives you the creeps”, in The Observer

   1 more example

   Mattresses were either spring or made of old straw, and sometimes contained little creepy-crawlies.

   1919, Gerald Featherstone Knight, Brother Bosch: An Airman's Escape from Germany

   Synonyms: creepy crawler

comparative more creepy-crawly · superlative most creepy-crawly

1. Unpleasant, repulsive.

   This made Egbert’s backbone more creepy crawly than ever[.]

   1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 62

   2 more examples

   […] and slimy, creepy-crawly dungeons with chains for your hands and feet; […]

   1903, Lloyd Osbourne, “Ffrenches First”, in Love, the Fiddler

   Still he paid no heed; and I don't mind saying to you men that, for half a second, I felt creepy-crawly and goose-flesh down the back.

   1921, Dorothy Scarborough, Humorous Ghost Stories

plural creepy-crawlies

1. AustraliainformalAn automated suction pool cleaner.