rabbit (redirected from pulling a rabbit out of the hat)

be like a deer/rabbit caught in the headlights

to be so frightened or surprised that you cannot move or think. Each time they asked him a question he was like a deer caught in the headlights.

See also: caught, like

breed like rabbits (informal)

if people breed like rabbits, they produce too many babies very quickly. It's like I was saying to Derek, they all intermarry and they breed like rabbits.

See also: breed, like

pull a rabbit out of the hat

to surprise everyone by suddenly doing something that shows a lot of skill, often in order to solve a problem. He's one of those players who, just when you think the game's over, can pull a rabbit out of the hat.

See also: hat, pull

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pull a rabbit out of your hat

to do something surprising. You didn't know how the story would end and then the author pulled a rabbit out of her hat, and it all made sense.

Usage notes: sometimes used to describe a surprising solution to a problem: The governor pulled a rabbit out of a hat by putting together a budget without increasing taxes.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of pull a rabbit out of a hat, which is often done as a magic trick

See also: hat, pull