“Twick or tweet” (“trick or treat” variation)

“Tweet” is how Elmer Fudd (the cartoon archenemy of Bugs Bunny, whom he calls a “wabbit”) might pronounce the word “treat.” There are several “trick or treat”/“twick or tweat”/“trick or tweet” jokes. The spelling is often meant to mimic the speech of a small child.
     
“Twick or tweat” was printed in the La Grande (OR) Observer on November 3, 1937. “‘TWICKS OR TWEAT!’ OOH, ‘AT SOUNDS WIKE FUN!” (in a “Joe Jinks” comic strip) was printed in the Galveston (TX) Daily News on October 27, 1946. “New study finds that toddlers who say ‘Twick or Tweat’ receive 45% more candy than toddlers who can say their Rs #Halloween #tips #tweet!” was posted on Twitter by tatianaplatt on October 31, 2016.
   
“Twick or tweet” was printed in the Medford (OR) Mail Tribune on November 1, 1940. “Twicks or Tweets, Money or Eats” was printed in the Waukesha (WI) Daily Freeman on October 31, 1946. “Kids are so cute when they say ‘Twick or Tweet’ !! #halloween” was posted on Twitter by kio on October 31, 2012.
     
Trick or Tweet is the title of a seven-minute cartoon featuring the characters of Sylvester the Cat and the bird Tweety. IMDb gives a 1959 for this cartoon, but it is advertised in the Brewton (AL) Standard on December 25, 1952.
       
“What do birds say on Halloween?”/“Twick or tweet” is a related riddle.
     
     
Wikipedia: Trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating is a traditional Halloween custom for children and adults in some countries. In the evening before All Saints’ Day (1 November), children in costumes travel from house to house, asking for treats with the phrase “Trick or treat”. The “treat” is usually some form of candy, although in some cultures money is given instead. The “trick” refers to a threat, usually idle, to perform mischief on the homeowner(s) or their property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating usually occurs on the evening of October 31. Some homeowners signal that they are willing to hand out treats by putting up Halloween decorations outside their doors; others simply leave treats available on their porches for the children to take freely. Houses may also leave their porch light on as a universal indicator that they have candy.
       
Newspapers.com
3 November 1937, La Grande (OR) Observer, pg. 2, col. 2:
TREAT OR THEY’LL TRICK YOU
(...)
And children are so innocently imitative. Ah, goodness. Some of them are of such tender years that they lisp, as they pronounce their terms, “Twick or tweat.” (...)—The Oregonian.
 
Newspapers.com
1 November 1940, Medford (OR) Mail Tribune, “Side Glances” by Tribune Reporters, pg. 1, col. 1:
Grown-ups Kay and Frank Brazille, wrapped up in sheets on a “twick or tweet” expedition, being discovered by a friend who offered them candy out of a jar with an opening just large enough for a child’s hand.
   
Newspapers.com
12 November 1945, Times-News (Twin Falls, ID), “Pot Shots,” pg. 4, col. 5:
HALLOWEENERS
(...)
Outside were two very small boys, costumed.
Said they:
“Twicks or tweat.”
 
Newspapers.com
27 October 1946, Galveston (TX) Daily News, “Joe Jinks” comic strip, pg. 32 (comics sec.), col. 1:
“TWICKS OR TWEAT!” OOH, ‘AT SOUNDS WIKE FUN!
 
Newspapers.com
31 October 1946, Waukesha (WI) Daily Freeman, “Up and Down Broadway in Waukesha,” pg. 6, col. 3:
“Twicks or Tweets, Money or Eats”
   
Newspapers.com
1 November 1947, Capital Journal (Salem, OR), “Sips for Supper” by Don Upjohn, pg. 4, col. 3:
The “twick or tweat” business as well as Halloween vandalism seems to have reached a new low ebb last night according to reports to officers and appearance of the town as the dawn rose on it this a. m.
     
Newspapers.com
27 October 1948, Wichita (KS) Eagle, pg. 8, col. 4 ad:
Donuts
FOR THAT “TWICK OR TWEET”
OR HALLOWEEN PARTY
(...)
MAYFAIR DONUT SHOP
 
Newspapers.com
28 October 1949, Ironwood (MI) Daily Globe, pg. 9, col. 1 ad:
“TWICKS
or
TWEETS”
(...)
Northern Baking Co.
IRONWOOD, MICH.
 
Newspapers.com
2 November 1949, Beatrice (NE) Daily Sun, pg. 1, col. 2:
‘Twick Or
Tweat’
OMAHA, Nov. 2 (AP)—A big black limousine pulled up in front of a west Omaha home on Hallowe’en night and a chauffeur in black livery stepped from the car.
 
Out popped a five-year-old boy.
 
The chauffeur escorted him to the door, rand the bell and stood aside.
 
“Twick or tweat,” said the child as the door opened.
 
He received the treat, the two returned to the car and it purred away into the night.
   
Newspapers.com
3 November 1950, The Statesman (Salem, OR), “Tricks, Treats Parties Mark Halloween,” pg. 24, col. 6:
Small children roamed the residential sections, paper bags in hand, knocking on doors with the greeting: “Twick or Tweat.”
 
Newspapers.com
25 December 1952, Brewton (AL) Standard, sec. 1, pg. 10, col. 1 ad:
Cartoon, “Trick or Tweet”
 
IMDb
Trick or Tweet
1959 7m
Sylvester Cat and a goony orange cat pretend not to let their rivalry over trying to catch Tweety Bird interfere with their friendship, while each secretly makes an attempt to grab and eat the canary while the other isn’t looking.
Director  Friz Freleng
Writer  Warren Foster (story)
Stars  Mel Blanc (voice) Daws Butler (voice)
       
Twitter
Jamie Noel
@jmenoell
loving small children bundled like eskimos who say “twick or tweat”
11:47 PM · Oct 30, 2009·Twitter Web Client
             
Twitter
🇺🇸 Dave 🎸 Phillips (he/him)
@Dave_Phillips7
Just realized my Looney Tunes Halloween tie (featuring Tweetie Bird) say “Twick or Tweet.” Who knew Twitter had been around that long.
2:18 PM · Oct 31, 2011·TweetDeck
     
Twitter
Jamie D-B
@sprtsgamesjames
Twix-twitter halloween presents: twicks or tweets
8:14 PM · Jul 31, 2012·Twitter SMS
 
Twitter
Scott Herbert
@HerbertScotty
When litttle kids say twick or tweet #awwee
7:11 PM · Oct 31, 2012·Twitter for BlackBerry®
 
Twitter
رها 🥀
@RoseHesami
If you say “twick or tweet” you’re automatically 100x cuter.
8:07 PM · Oct 31, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Kellen Cameron
@Kjcameron1109
I’m a sucker for the little kids that come all dressed up and say “twick or tweet”  #takeallthecandy #SoooCute
8:43 PM · Oct 31, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
kio
@nukkkashukkka
Kids are so cute when they say ‘Twick or Tweet’ !! #halloween
9:43 PM · Oct 31, 2012·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Gary Porter
@garyrporter
Replying to @Downtown
@ReformedBroker as Elmer Fudd would say Twick or Tweet
2:00 PM · Apr 23, 2013 from Alta Sierra, CA·Tweetbot for iOS
 
Twitter
tatianaplatt
@tatianaplatt
New study finds that toddlers who say “Twick or Tweat” receive 45% more candy than toddlers who can say their Rs #Halloween #tips #tweet!
8:16 AM · Oct 31, 2016·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Oakley & Angel Tank🌈💕🐾
@TankOakley
Replying to @roscoe_blaze
Yous bery prwepared for da Halloween fingy pal❣ Are you doing twicks or tweats??? 🤔🐾
1:09 PM · Oct 8, 2020·Twitter for Android
   
Twitter
Jessica Leonard
@J_Leonard23
Did a rewatch of Tales of Halloween last night and now every time someone walks in a room we all say “twick or tweat!”
6:28 PM · Oct 25, 2020·Twitter Web App
     
Twitter
BriBri
@BriBri83934587
Replying to @samriegel
I say Twick or Tweet. You get more candy if you pretend to be a five foot ten four year old.
9:30 AM · Mar 17, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Katt
@katt_j83
We had a kid come to the door and say “twick or tweet” and my cold, dead heart has melted
2:40 PM · Oct 31, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Nosey Parker MBE
@Nosey1968
As much as I hate twick or tweat, respect is due🙂
(Halloween costumes are shown.—ed.)
5:46 AM · Oct 22, 2022 from Ferndown, England·Twitter for iPhone