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    HOMEWORK Deer Caught in Headlights

    Uploaded by

    Alfred Joseph Zulueta
    This document discusses the idiom "like a deer caught in headlights". It begins by providing background on deer in Washington D.C., noting they can cause trouble by eating garden plants. It then explains the phrase refers to how deer will freeze in the middle of the road when headlights shine on them. The idiom is used to describe people who are in a state of extreme surprise, fear or confusion and seem unable to think or act. As an example, it describes how a person giving a speech may freeze on stage from stage fright, looking like a deer caught in headlights. In the end, it notes the phrase can be used when someone is really surprised or scared and appears frozen and wide-eyed.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    HOMEWORK Deer Caught in Headlights

    Uploaded by

    Alfred Joseph Zulueta
    15 views3 pages
    This document discusses the idiom "like a deer caught in headlights". It begins by providing background on deer in Washington D.C., noting they can cause trouble by eating garden plants. It then explains the phrase refers to how deer will freeze in the middle of the road when headlights shine on them. The idiom is used to describe people who are in a state of extreme surprise, fear or confusion and seem unable to think or act. As an example, it describes how a person giving a speech may freeze on stage from stage fright, looking like a deer caught in headlights. In the end, it notes the phrase can be used when someone is really surprised or scared and appears frozen and wide-eyed.

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    This document discusses the idiom "like a deer caught in headlights". It begins by providing background on deer in Washington D.C., noting they can cause trouble by eating garden plants. It then explains the phrase refers to how deer will freeze in the middle of the road when headlights shine on them. The idiom is used to describe people who are in a state of extreme surprise, fear or confusion and seem unable to think or act. As an example, it describes how a person giving a speech may freeze on stage from stage fright, looking like a deer caught in headlights. In the end, it notes the phrase can be used when someone is really surprised or scared and appears frozen and wide-eyed.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    15 views3 pages

    HOMEWORK Deer Caught in Headlights

    Uploaded by

    Alfred Joseph Zulueta
    This document discusses the idiom "like a deer caught in headlights". It begins by providing background on deer in Washington D.C., noting they can cause trouble by eating garden plants. It then explains the phrase refers to how deer will freeze in the middle of the road when headlights shine on them. The idiom is used to describe people who are in a state of extreme surprise, fear or confusion and seem unable to think or act. As an example, it describes how a person giving a speech may freeze on stage from stage fright, looking like a deer caught in headlights. In the end, it notes the phrase can be used when someone is really surprised or scared and appears frozen and wide-eyed.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    11/4/2020 Deer Caught in Headlights

    WORDS AND THEIR STORIES

    Deer Caught in Headlights


    September 12, 2020

    And now, Words and eir Stories, from VOA Learning English.

    On this program we teach common words and expressions in American English. Today we
    talk about an animal found in many parts of the United States -- deer.

    Washington, D.C. is home to many deer. ey are sweet-looking, especially the baby fawns
    with their white spots. In the city, they are fun to watch, but they do cause trouble.

    ey make a lot of gardeners angry because deer eat almost everything!

    In many parts of America, you will see road warning signs about deer. Adults are not little
    animals. An average male weighs about 135 kilograms! Deer sometimes leap into the path of
    fast-moving tra c. is can have serious, sometimes deadly, results.

    And, that is what brings us to today’s expression – like a deer caught in headlights.

    Deer will o en stop suddenly in the middle of a road and stare into the lights of a vehicle
    coming toward them. ey appear frozen in place, or “caught” in the headlights.

    When people are in a state of extreme surprise, fear or confusion, we say they are like deer
    caught in headlights. ey seem so frightened that they can not think clearly. ey do not
    know what to do, so they do not do anything.

    Sometimes we shorten the phrase and simply say, “like a deer in headlights.”

    is is a little di erent from being called “doe-eyed.” A doe is a grown female deer. People who
    are doe-eyed are innocent, clueless. ey are unaware of what’s going on around them.

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    11/4/2020 Deer Caught in Headlights

    Now, please keep this in mind. We usually use “like a deer caught in headlights” in situations
    that are not life-threatening.

    For example, people who have stage fright o en look like a deer in headlights. Let’s say I am
    acting in a play. I know all my lines and feel ready. But on opening night, as I look out into the
    audience and see all those faces … I freeze. I forget all my lines and stare into space, unable to
    speak. Someone watching might say, “What is wrong with Anna? Is she supposed to just stand
    there doing … nothing? She’s like a deer caught in headlights.”

    So the next time you are really surprised or scared, you may nd yourself looking frozen and
    wide-eyed -- like a deer in headlights.

    And that brings us to the end of this Words and eir Stories. Until next time … I’m Anna
    Matteo!

    Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. e song
    at the end is Sia singing "Deer in Headlights."

    ________________________________________________________________

    Words in is Story

    fawn – n. a deer that is less than a year old

    leap – v. to jump over something : to move quickly

    stare – v. to look at someone or something for a long time o en with your eyes wide open

    stage fright – n. nervousness felt at appearing before an audience

    audience – n. a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert)
    or watch something (such as a movie or play) : the people who attend a performance

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    11/4/2020 Deer Caught in Headlights

    https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/deer-caught-in-headlights/5578858.html 3/3

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