Fawn
/fɔn/
verbnounB2
Definition
As a verb, 'fawn' means to act very friendly or overly nice to someone, usually because you want something from them or want to please them. It often suggests too much or unnecessary praise. As a noun, a 'fawn' is a baby deer, usually with light brown fur and sometimes white spots, that stays close to its mother for protection.
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See It in Action
Verb: To show too much affection or praise to someone, often to get their approval
- •She fawned over the celebrity, hoping to get an autograph.
- •Employees sometimes fawn on their manager to get a promotion.
- •Don't fawn on him too much; he might think you're not sincere.
Noun: A young deer, especially one still with its mother
- •The fawn hid quietly in the tall grass.
- •We saw a mother deer and her fawn in the forest.
- •The fawn's spots help it stay hidden from predators.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'fawn' (verb) like 'praise,' but more like being very eager or even a little too nice to get attention or favor.
- ✓Picture a small deer (the noun 'fawn') quietly following its mother in a forest, soft and gentle.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone smiles and agrees with everything a teacher says because they want to be liked.
- ✓Sounds like 'fawn' → imagine a gentle deer softly walking in a quiet forest.
- ✓Remember stories or cartoons where a young deer (fawn) looks cute and innocent, or when someone tries very hard to please a boss by agreeing with everything.
- ✓NOT like 'like' (simple feeling), 'fawn' as a verb means acting in a way to get favor, not just liking someone.
- ✓NOT like 'flatter' (which can be false praise), 'fawn' is more about showing affection or attention, sometimes too much.
- ✓The noun 'fawn' is a young animal, not a person or action.
Try Other Words
- •Flatter: to praise someone often in a way that is not sincere (Use when the praise may be false or to get advantage)
- •Praise: to say good things about someone (Use when the praise is honest and straightforward)
- •Admire: to respect or like someone or something (Use when the feeling is genuine and respectful)
- •Young deer: meaning a baby deer (Use instead of the noun 'fawn' when describing the animal simply)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'fawn' (single root word, no prefix or suffix)
- •Etymology: From Old English 'fagnian,' meaning to rejoice or show joy, later evolving to mean showing affection or praise
- •Historical development: Originally related to joy or happiness, it came to mean showing affection or flattering behavior by the 1500s; as a noun, it has long referred to a young deer
- •Modern usage: Used as a verb to describe someone acting overly nice to gain favor; as a noun, it is used in biology and everyday language for a baby deer
Reflect & Connect
•When can showing too much affection or praise (fawning) be helpful or harmful in real life?
•How does the image of a young deer (fawn) help you remember the verb meaning of 'fawn'?
Fill in the blanks
1.She fawned ___ her teacher because she wanted to ___ a good grade.
2.The fawn stayed close to its mother to ___ from danger in the forest.
3.Unlike simple praise, to fawn means to show ___ affection or attention.
4.When employees fawn on their boss, they often hope for a ___ or reward.
5.The fawn’s soft fur and spots help it ___ with the forest floor.
6.People who fawn too much may seem ___ or not honest.
7.The mother deer watched carefully while the fawn ___ quietly nearby.