fawn

/fɔ:n/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
fawn

A young fawn stands quietly in a sun-dappled forest clearing.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A young deer: A fawn is a deer in its first year of life.
    • A light yellowish-brown color: Fawn is a pale, warm brown color, similar to the coat of a young deer.

  2. Verb:

    • To give birth to a fawn: Used for a deer giving birth.
    • To show affection or seek attention in a servile way: To behave in an excessively flattering or submissive manner towards someone to gain favor. This often involves physical gestures of submission.
    • To show fear or submission through behavior: To act in a cowering or timid way.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (young deer):
    • We saw a spotted fawn hiding in the tall grass.
    • The doe was protective of her fawn.
  • Noun (color):
    • She painted the walls a soft fawn.
    • He wore a fawn-colored sweater.
  • Verb (of deer):
    • The deer will fawn in the spring.
  • Verb (to flatter servilely):
    • The assistant would fawn over the boss, hoping for a promotion.
    • He fawned on the wealthy guests, offering them drinks before they asked.
  • Verb (to show submission/fear):
    • The dog would fawn at its owner's feet after misbehaving.
Advanced Usage
  • "to fawn over/on/upon someone": This is the most common construction for the verb meaning to flatter or show excessive affection. The prepositions "over," "on," and "upon" are used interchangeably.
    • The fans fawned over the celebrity, asking for autographs.
    • Politicians often have aides who fawn on them.
Variants and Related Words
  • Fawning (adjective): Behaving in a flattering, servile manner.
    • His fawning compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
  • Fawner (noun): A person who fawns.
    • He was known as a shameless fawner in the office.
Synonyms
  • Noun (young deer): Calf (for other animals like elk), yearling.
  • Verb (to flatter): Kowtow, grovel, toady, flatter obsequiously, suck up (informal), brown-nose (vulgar slang).
  • Verb (to show submission): Cower, cringe.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
  • Fawn over: To give excessive, flattering attention to someone or something.
    • She fawns over her new puppy.
  • Fawn on/upon: (Same meaning as "fawn over") To act servilely towards someone.
    • The courtiers fawned upon the king.
Related Idioms
  • None directly using the word "fawn" as a key component. However, the behavior described by the verb is central to idioms like "to bow and scrape" (to behave in a servile way) or "to kiss up to someone" (to flatter someone to gain favor).
fawn

A young fawn stands quietly in a sun-dappled forest clearing.

Noun
  1. a young deer
  2. a color or pigment varying around a light grey-brown color
    • she wore dun
Verb
  1. have fawns
    • deer fawn
  2. try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
    • He is always kowtowing to his boss
  3. show submission or fear

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ gần giống

Từ chứa "fawn"

Từ có nhắc đến "fawn"