[…] expression doesn’t really present any difficulty when it comes to meaning or origin (here’s a good account). It sprang from descriptions of Dan Quayle’s performance in encounters with […]
raymond:
January 3rd, 2012 at 11:53 pm
its a nice explanation, i was thinking about this phrase since last week, and i never thought internet can help me haha :D
Gonna sound crazy but i originated this phrase during a conversation with a colleague in the software business in ny in the mid 80’s. I had never heard iy before and just used it kn our conversation. He laughed and asked if he could use it.
Dee Dee:
February 27th, 2015 at 2:56 am
Sorry, but I beat you to it in the early 70’s when I first started driving to/from high school. I was fascinated by the book Watership Down and the concept of rabbits freezing “In Tharn”
That’s when I actually saw a deer staring back at my headlights on River Road in Des Plaines, IL. I’d been using “In Tharn”to describe surprise, In my early writing attempts, I realized the reference was too obscure so, was very pleased with myself when I came up with the original Deer in Headlights catchphrase.
How hilarious that it caught on in Britain sfter I visited London in 1981. Thrilled to hear it!
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yves looked ” like a deer in the headlights.” | " Un si long Voyage ":
August 9th, 2011 at 8:59 am
[…] http://www.word-detective.com/2009/04/24/deer-in-the-headlights/ […]
yves looked ” like a deer in the headlights.” | The Long Way Around (my mom's) House:
August 9th, 2011 at 9:01 am
[…] http://www.word-detective.com/2009/04/24/deer-in-the-headlights/ […]
deer-in-the-headlights look, y2k « Lex maniac:
September 29th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
[…] expression doesn’t really present any difficulty when it comes to meaning or origin (here’s a good account). It sprang from descriptions of Dan Quayle’s performance in encounters with […]
raymond:
January 3rd, 2012 at 11:53 pm
its a nice explanation, i was thinking about this phrase since last week, and i never thought internet can help me haha :D
THANKS!
Vanessa:
October 4th, 2013 at 11:56 am
Great explanation, Thanks
matt dailey:
September 12th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Gonna sound crazy but i originated this phrase during a conversation with a colleague in the software business in ny in the mid 80’s. I had never heard iy before and just used it kn our conversation. He laughed and asked if he could use it.
Dee Dee:
February 27th, 2015 at 2:56 am
Sorry, but I beat you to it in the early 70’s when I first started driving to/from high school. I was fascinated by the book Watership Down and the concept of rabbits freezing “In Tharn”
That’s when I actually saw a deer staring back at my headlights on River Road in Des Plaines, IL. I’d been using “In Tharn”to describe surprise, In my early writing attempts, I realized the reference was too obscure so, was very pleased with myself when I came up with the original Deer in Headlights catchphrase.
How hilarious that it caught on in Britain sfter I visited London in 1981. Thrilled to hear it!