Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

deer in the headlights

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.26 in modern English

Syllables: deer in the -head-lights
IPA

31

Scrabble Score

19

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A person in a mental state of high arousal caused by anxiety, fear, panic, surprise, confusion, or substance abuse.

noun

A person with a stunned or glazed expression.

Example Sentences

""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."

Etymology

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

Inflected Forms

deer in headlights (alternative)

Phrases

deer in the headlight syndrome

Synonyms

rabbit in the headlamps rabbit in the headlights

Questions

What does deer in the headlights mean?: A person in a mental state of high arousal caused by anxiety, fear, panic, surprise, confusion, or substance abuse.
Where does deer in the headlights come from?: From the image of a deer caught in a car's headlights – wide-open eyes, lack of motor reactions, etc.

How to pronounce deer in the headlights

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