Lots of this craziness in languages. I lived in another country for two years and, in the beginning, these types of idiomatic phrases wreak havoc on a non-native speaker. (See, I just did it, "wreak havoc"). With enough time, it actually becomes kind of fun to learn and understand the literal translation vs common-place usage.
Billboards and advertisements are where these idiomatic phrases get really interesting. Cuz you can translate the words, but without the cultural context, it doesn't mean anything. (And I'm guessing that's the point you're trying to make, all these types of expressions don't really mean anything, at least not anything measurable and comparable.)
Saying "scary-quiet" is easier than saying "the report produces 64decibels as captured by recording studio microphones in a sound-deadened room at an elevation of 2000feet above sea level with an air density of 1.225 kg/m3, but only when using lot#123456 of the JSB 18.13gr pellets, sorted and measured. Lot # 123457 fits a little looser and produces 64.75decibels".
Lots of us geek out about all the little details, but sometimes it's nice to just hear some non-measurable descriptive phrase because it gives us insight into the impression made upon the person relating the experience.
... sometimes 
... when I want 
... and am sober! 
Yo!