buck fever


noun

nervous excitement of an inexperienced hunter upon the approach of game.
any nervous excitement preceding a new experience.

Origin of buck fever

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example sentences from the Web for buck fever

  • Most people get a touch of the buck-fever the first time they try to shoot a wild animal.

    The Trail of The Badger |Sidford F. Hamp
  • As the bull entered the opening, I was as near an attack of buck-fever as ever before.

British Dictionary definitions for buck fever

buck fever

noun

nervous excitement felt by inexperienced hunters at the approach of game