fawn
fawn — adjective
- fawnpositive
- fawnercomparative
- fawnestsuperlative
1. describing a light brownish-yellow colour that looks like the fur of a young dee
describing a light brownish-yellow colour that looks like the fur of a young deer, sitting between tan and beige on the colour spectrum.
Théo chose a fawn-coloured scarf to match his winter coat.
fawn-coloured + noun of clothing
Mizuki painted the living room walls a soft fawn shade that made the space feel warm.
Anna wore a pretty fawn dress to the garden party last Saturday.
The soldier's uniform was made from a plain fawn fabric that blended into the dry grass.
用法筆記
Fawn is used almost always as an attributive adjective before a noun (fawn coat, fawn colour). It is not commonly used predicatively (the coat is fawn).
常見錯誤
fawn — noun
- fawnsingular
- fawnsplural
1. a baby deer, less than one year old, with a reddish-brown coat covered in white
a baby deer, less than one year old, with a reddish-brown coat covered in white spots that help it hide in the forest undergrowth.
The park ranger showed the schoolchildren a newborn fawn hiding quietly in the tall grass.
A tiny fawn wobbled on its long, thin legs as it tried to stand up for the first time.
fawn + physical description (wobble, legs)
Bilal spotted a sleeping fawn curled up under a large oak tree near the hiking trail.
Owens' photograph captured a mother deer gently licking her fawn's ear in the early morning light.
The fawn's white spots helped it blend into the sun-dappled forest floor.
用法筆記
A fawn is specifically a deer in its first year. After one year, it is called a yearling. The white spots on a fawn's coat disappear as it grows older.
常見錯誤
2. a pale brownish-yellow colour, similar to the coat of a young deer, often used i
a pale brownish-yellow colour, similar to the coat of a young deer, often used in fashion, interior design, and paint names.
Kwame picked a wool sofa in fawn that complemented the dark wooden floor perfectly.
in fawn = colour as noun
The artist mixed white and brown paint to create a warm fawn for the deer's coat in her painting.
Nellie chose a handbag in fawn because it went with both black and brown shoes.
The bridesmaids wore dresses in shades of fawn and cream for the autumn wedding.
用法筆記
As a colour noun, fawn is uncountable and often follows the preposition 'in' (a dress in fawn, painted in fawn). It is different from the adjective sense because it names the colour as a thing rather than describing a noun.
fawn — verb
- fawnpresent simple I / you / we / they
- fawns3rd person singular
- fawning-ing form
- fawnedpast simple
1. to try to win favour from someone more powerful by behaving with exaggerated res
to try to win favour from someone more powerful by behaving with exaggerated respect, excessive praise, or humble obedience, often in a way that feels insincere or uncomfortable to watch.
Eitan felt awkward watching his colleague fawn over the visiting professor with endless compliments.
fawn over + person (target of flattery)
Ishaan refused to fawn on the film critics just to get a good review for his first movie.
The junior manager constantly fawned over the CEO at company dinners, hoping for a quick promotion.
Celebrities who surround themselves with assistants who fawn on them can lose touch with ordinary life.
- grovel
stronger and more physical, suggesting literally lying at someone's feet; more extreme than fawn
- toady
suggests flattering someone to gain personal advantage, especially in a political or workplace setting
- suck up to
informal equivalent, common in everyday speech, less literary than fawn
- butter up
milder and more playful than fawn, not necessarily servile
文法句型
fawn + over/on + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense has a strongly negative connotation — it describes behaviour that is weak, servile, and often transparent to others. The object is introduced by 'over' (more common) or 'on'. It is never used for genuine respect or admiration.
常見錯誤
2. (of an animal, especially a dog) to show happiness, love, and excitement towards
(of an animal, especially a dog) to show happiness, love, and excitement towards a person by moving close to them, rubbing against them, licking them, or jumping up in a friendly way.
The golden retriever fawned on its owner, wagging its tail and licking her hand as she walked through the door.
fawned on + owner + physical affection details
Whenever Rodrigo came home from work, his puppy would fawn over him with excited little jumps.
The neighbour's cat fawned against Amihan's legs, purring loudly and demanding attention.
Owen's old Labrador happily fawned at his feet whenever he sat down on the sofa.
- nuzzle
specifically pressing or rubbing the nose or face against someone affectionately
- cuddle up to
to sit or lie close to someone for warmth or affection, often used for pets
文法句型
fawn + over/on/at + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively used for animals, especially dogs and cats. Using it for a person in this affectionate sense sounds very old-fashioned or literary, and most modern readers would interpret it as the negative sense (verb sense 1).