An earwig is a small insect with a long, flat body and a pair of pincers sticking out from its rear end like tiny forceps. These pincers look threatening but can barely pinch human skin. Earwigs are reddish-brown or black, about half an inch to an inch long, and often hide in damp, dark places like under flowerpots, in garden mulch, or inside folded newspapers.

Despite their creepy name, earwigs do not crawl into people's ears any more than other insects do. These insects are mostly harmless to humans, though gardeners sometimes find them annoying because they nibble on plant leaves and flower petals at night.

Earwigs are actually helpful in some ways: they eat aphids and other pests that damage crops. They're also surprisingly good parents for insects. The mother earwig guards her eggs and cleans them to prevent mold, then protects her young nymphs until they can survive on their own.

The word can also mean someone who secretly listens to private conversations, though this meaning is quite old-fashioned.