Frozen like a hare in the headlights of a car

Posted by David FG on July 24, 2005

In Reply to: Frozen like a hare in the headlights of a car posted by ESC on July 24, 2005

: : Do you know the meaning of: Frozen like a hare in the headlights of a car?

: I've heard the expression -- deer in the headlights. It's literal. Deer do freeze -- don't move -- when they are caught by a car's headlights.

The usual phrase this (the European) side of the Atlantic is 'caught like a rabbit in the headlights' which means the same, but although I have often seen, in the headlights, rabbits running across or along roads I have never seen one freeze when thus caught.

DFG

• Frozen like a hare in the headlights of a car Smokey Stover 24/July/05