"give me creeps", "give me the creeps" and "give me goose bumps"

[jctgf]

please, are these expressions identical in meaning?
can I say that the first one is related to bad things (like fear), meanwhile the second one usually refers to good experiences?
what is the most casual expressions for each situation?
thanks a lot.

[Anglika]

"gave me the creeps" = makes me shudder, makes my skin feel as though it is crawling [ Of or producing a sensation of uneasiness or fear, as of things crawling on one's skin]

"gave me goose-bumps" = reflex erection of hairs of the skin in response to cold or emotional stress or skin irritation

[jctgf]

hi,
as for the sensation of things crawling on the skin, do you mean the same sensation we have on our legs when we sit with it crossed for a long time?
thanks.

[Anglika]

No - that's called "pins and needles".

The creepy feeling in the skin is the result of the skin muscles contracting to raise the hairs on the skin - a natural reaction to fear. Your skin feels as though it has ants crawling on it.

[jctgf]

I probably understood it incorrectly but it seems to me that both sensations mean skin muscle contraction and skin hair raising. how wrong am I, please?
let me try some examples:
if I am seeing a movie and there is an horror scene, can I say that it "give me creeps"?
If I see a beautiful scene does it give me "goose bumps"?
thanks again.

[Anglika]

You are right - but the creeps is more creepy than goosebumps. You really do feel as though something is crawling over the skin. You don't get that sensation with goosebumps.


If I am seeing a movie and there is an horror scene, can I say that it "gives me creeps"? Yes
If I see a beautiful scene does it give me "goose bumps"? It can.