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spider sense

spider sense

2 8.7
A strong feeling that warns you of danger before you see it
  • noun
  • /ˈspaɪdər sɛns/
  • Informal
translation icon : sentido arácnido
  • My spider-sense is tingling... ...if you know what I'm talking about.
  • my spider sense tingles

All the, all the things that shut down when your spider sense says something's wrong.

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Examples

  • Hey, guys, my Negro spider senses is tingling.

  • You know, if there is some type of vibe, you know, if your spider sense is saying go or no go.

  • While trying to figure out a problem or a solution, I get a spider sense of whether I'm going hot or cold.

  • My spider sense is telling me that my father's still in this building.

  • All the, all the things that shut down when your spider sense says something's wrong.

  • As she walked through the dark alley, her spider sense warned her of potential danger ahead.

  • After hearing the strange noises, his spider sense kicked in, making him very cautious.

  • She has an uncanny spider sense that often alerts her to trouble before it happens.

Synonyms

immediate apprehension
vsspider sense
7.9

A quick understanding you have without thinking

alerts specifically to impending danger rather than general awareness

How Intuitive

sixth sense
17 7.6
spider sense
  • Informal
2 8.7
intuition
127 5.5
hunch
159 4.7

Surface Forms

spider sense singular
spider senses plural

Morphology

spider + sense

The parts 'spider' + 'sense' give a partial clue — a kind of perception related to spiders — but the established idiomatic meaning (a sudden heightened intuition alerting one to danger) depends on metaphorical/cultural knowledge (e.g., Spider-Man) and is not directly predictable from the words alone. Because learners can infer something about a 'type of sense' but not the specific idiomatic sense without exposure, this is best seen as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Spider sense comes from the Spider-Man comics, where the hero had a special feeling that warned him of danger, like a spider sensing movement on its web. That's why spider sense now means a sudden 'feeling' or 'warning' that something bad might happen.