歡迎來到今天的VOA慢速專區。
今天為大家帶來一則語法知識點。（文末左下角點擊閱讀原文，可獲取中英文分開版本）
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
現在是美國之音慢速英語《詞彙掌故》節目。
On this program we teach common words and expressions in American English.
在這個節目中，我們會教給大家常用的美式英語詞彙和表達。
Today we talk about an animal found in many parts of the United States -- deer.
今天我們談論的是在美國很多地方都能找到的一種動物——鹿。
Washington, D.C. is home to many deer.
華盛頓特區是許多鹿的家園。
They are sweet-looking, especially the baby fawns with their white spots.
它們看起來很可愛，尤其是那些帶著白色斑點的小鹿。
In the city, they are fun to watch, but they do cause trouble.
在城市裡，它們看起來會很有趣，但它們確實會造成麻煩。
They make a lot of gardeners angry because deer eat almost everything!
它們會使許多園丁生氣，因為鹿幾乎什麼都吃！
In many parts of America, you will see road warning signs about deer.
在美國許多地方，你會看到有關鹿的道路警告標誌。
Adults are not little animals.
成年的鹿不是小動物。
An average male weighs about 135 kilograms!
一隻雄鹿的平均體重約是135千克！
Deer sometimes leap into the path of fast-moving traffic.
鹿有時會跳到交通繁忙的道路上。
This can have serious, sometimes deadly, results.
這可能會導致嚴重的，有時甚至是致命的後果。
And, that is what brings us to today's expression – like a deer caught in headlights.
那就把我們引入了今天的表達——就像被車頭燈照到的鹿一樣手足無措。
Deer will often stop suddenly in the middle of a road and stare into the lights of a vehicle coming toward them.
鹿經常會突然停在路中間，盯著迎面駛來的車輛的燈。
They appear frozen in place, or "caught" in the headlights.
它們似乎僵在原地，或者被車頭燈「困住」了。
When people are in a state of extreme surprise, fear or confusion, we say they are like deer caught in headlights.
當人們處於極度驚訝、恐懼或困惑的狀態時，我們會說他們就像被車頭燈照到的鹿一樣手足無措。
They seem so frightened that they can not think clearly.
他們似乎很害怕以至於不能清晰地思考。
They do not know what to do, so they do not do anything.
他們不知道要做什麼，所以他們什麼都沒做。
Sometimes we shorten the phrase and simply say, "like a deer in headlights."
有時我們會縮短這個短語，只說，「like a deer in headlights」。
This is a little different from being called "doe-eyed."
這和被稱為「（像雌鹿般）眼睛天真無邪的」有點不同。
A doe is a grown female deer.
雌鹿是成年的母鹿。
People who are doe-eyed are innocent, clueless.
有著像雌鹿般眼睛的人是天真無知的。
They are unaware of what's going on around them.
他們不知道自己周圍發生了什麼。
Now, please keep this in mind.
現在，請記住這點。
We usually use "like a deer caught in headlights" in situations that are not life-threatening.
我們通常在沒有生命危險的情境中使用「like a deer caught in headlights」。
For example, people who have stage fright often look like a deer in headlights.
例如，怯場的人經常手足無措。
Let's say I am acting in a play.
假設我要表演。
I know all my lines and feel ready.
我知道我所有的臺詞，感覺自己準備好了。
But on opening night, as I look out into the audience and see all those faces … I freeze.
但在首演之夜，當我面向觀眾，看到他們所有人的臉時，我呆住了。
I forget all my lines and stare into space, unable to speak.
我忘記了所有臺詞，呆呆地凝視前方，說不出話來。
Someone watching might say, "What is wrong with Anna?
看表演的人可能會說：「安娜怎麼了？
Is she supposed to just stand there doing … nothing?
她是要站在那裡，什麼也不做嗎？
She's like a deer caught in headlights."
她就像一隻被車頭燈照到的鹿一樣。」
So the next time you are really surprised or scared,
所以下次你真的感到驚訝或害怕的時候，
you may find yourself looking frozen and wide-eyed -- like a deer in headlights.
你可能會發現自己呆住了，睜大了眼睛——就像一隻被車頭燈照到的鹿。
And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories.
以上就是本期的《詞彙掌故》。
Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo!
下次見，安娜·馬特奧為您播報！
這裡是 美國之音 頻道