The phrase "bump in the night" refers to an unexpected noise that startles you in the darkness. It typically conjures up images of ghosts, monsters or other frightening creatures. There are many synonyms for this phrase, including things like boogeyman, specter, apparition, creature, shadow, or phantom. Other possible substitutions could include spook, poltergeist, ghostly noise, eerie sound, mysterious disturbance, or unexplained bump. No matter what term you use to describe the unsettling noises that often occur in the dead of night, one thing is certain - they can certainly make your heart race and your imagination run wild.