deer in the headlights

English

Etymology

From the image of a deer caught in a car's headlights – wide-open eyes, lack of motor reactions, etc.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

deer in the headlights (plural deer in the headlights)

1. (idiomatic) A person in a mental state of high arousal caused by anxiety, fear, panic, surprise , confusion, or substance abuse.
2. (idiomatic) A person with a stunned or glazed expression.
   • 2000, Thomas Hoover, Life Blood‎^[1], →ISBN:

     "What! I thought you were finished with principal photography." He looked disoriented, the deer in the headlights. Hints of extra crew time always had that effect on him.

Alternative forms

• deer in headlights

Synonyms

• rabbit in the headlights (UK, Australia)

References

• “deer in the headlights”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.