Looking back on a time when we ran into what briefly seemed like a bear in the woods, I wanted to say something in Russian to the effect of our finding ourselves fear-struck and helplessly "riveted to the spot", as we say "like a stump (of a tree)" in English.
In Russian, is it more like:
стоять как столб
than: стоять как пень
I'm also wondering if the usage of "как столб/пень" can extend to instances where you cannot tear/pull yourself away from the TV etc, as if to be rooted in front of them, only because you are completely engrossed in that activity?
Can "как столб/пень" be used to convey the idea of being riveted to the TV screen etc of your own accord, as opposed to fear-induced temporary paralysis? Or in the case of such voluntary immobility, would you use some other expression?