# buck fever

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/buck-fever
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Excitement and nervousness felt by a new hunter upon seeing game.

## Examples

- He had buck fever and missed the shot.
- The young hunter struggled to aim his rifle because he was suffering from a bad case of buck fever.
- As the massive deer stepped into the clearing, the novice hunter felt the paralyzing grip of buck fever, causing his hands to shake uncontrollably.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.