excitation leap

excitation leap
 n.— «How, in fact, does a reindeer warn of danger? It jumps in the air—what scientists call an “excitation leap”—and then runs away. All of the other reindeer see the leap, see the running, and take off running, too. Provided they learned the drill as calves.» —“Smart Stuff with Twig Walkingstick: Any reindeer games?” by Kurt Knebusch North Texas e-News (Texas) Dec. 7, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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