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Deer in the headlight

Posted by ESC on April 28, 2007

In Reply to: Deer in the headlight posted by Smokey Stover on April 27, 2007

: : : I want to know what the phrase "deer in the headlight" means.

: : It's literal. A deer is crossing the highway and a car is coming. The headlights of the vehicle will cause the deer to "freeze." Too scared to get out of the way. It is a very hazardous situation and deer are known as the most dangerous animal in the United States because of the resulting wrecks.

: And there is the figural meaning, or extended meaning. "He had that look, like that of a deer caught in the headlights."
: SS

What I meant was the origin is literal.

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