The term "crickets" is an idiomatic expression that means a situation where there is complete silence or lack of response. It can be used in various contexts, such as when someone asks a question and no one answers, when a room falls silent after a joke is told, or when a conversation dies down due to lack of interest from the participants. The phrase is derived from the fact that crickets are insects known for their chirping sounds, so when they fall silent, it can be interpreted as something unusual has happened.