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Some animals like tigers, lions, cats, etc do this action before attacking their prey suddenly and unexpectedly. In fact they seem waiting insidiously (?) until the appropriate moment for attacking and (usually) the poor prey is not aware of their presence.
What is the verb, phrase, or idiom for describing this action/ state?
I have found "ambush" but I don't know wether it can be used for animals or not.
Petrified is an excellent fit....
2: to make rigid or inert like stone
a : to make lifeless or inactive : deaden
b : to confound with fear, amazement, or awe
from m-w.com
Quiver: tremble involuntary, the action the lower lip does when a person is about to burst into tears or sob loudly.
- His lower lip began to quiver, his face contorted, and the tears began.
- Tears welled from his eyes now, his lower lip quivering...
- ... her lower lip quivered, her eyes were puffy and red. She was on the brink of crying again.
Puckered: to draw together, crease, fold, and wrinkled. How a person's face appears when they can't hold back their tears.
- the child’s face puckered, ready to cry
Speaking to the infant in a pitiful, compassionate voice, he said, “Oh! is the baby hurt? Poor thing. What did you do? Does it hurt? Show it to Mama.” Sure enough, my happy little cousin puckered up, started crying and made his way to his mother for emotional support.
The child puckered up her mouth in an effort to stop the tears but it was useless. They flowed down her dirt streaked cheeks...
Oxford Dictionaries: pucker, quiver
Clair Danes, alias Carrie Mathison in the TV series Homeland, mastering the lower-lip quiver
Best Answer
The usual verb is stalk which is defined by Merriam-Webster as: