the ghost walks
English
Etymology
An allusion to a scene in Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
Phrase
the ghost walks
- (theater, humorous) The manager comes to pay the company's salaries.
- 2010, John Harper (ed.), Tales of Haunted Places
- Ask the regular staff at any theatre when the ghost walks and the chances are that the answer will be — on a Friday, ie pay night (unless that happens to be on a Thursday!).
- 2010, John Harper (ed.), Tales of Haunted Places
Usage notes
- Often in the form of a question: "has the ghost walked?", "when will the ghost walk?", etc.