riveted to the spot

riveted to the spot

Fixed in place; unable or unwilling to move. She beckoned me to follow her down into the dark cellar, but my feet were riveted to the spot. The warriors stood riveted to the spot as the enemy advanced on horseback.
See also: rivet, spot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • riveted to (one's) spot
  • riveted to the ground
  • be riveted to the spot
  • make for
  • make for (somewhere or something)
  • make for somewhere
  • make out for (somewhere or something)
  • bodega
  • rivet (one's) attention (on someone or something)
  • rivet attention
References in classic literature
Ten minutes later, Adam Ladd, who had just arrived from Portland and was wending his way to the church, came suddenly into the main street and stopped short under a tree by the wayside, riveted to the spot by a scene of picturesque loveliness such as his eyes had seldom witnessed before.
Equally unable to fly or to advance, he stood riveted to the spot, until the infatuation became so complete, that the worthy naturalist was beginning, by a desperate effort of scientific resolution, even to class the different specimens.
She made no effort to escape, but seemed riveted to the spot by the very fierceness of the battle she was beholding, as well, possibly, as by the fascination of the handsome giant who had espoused her cause.
I myself felt; a strange kind of fascination at the sight of all this gold and all these bank-notes; it seemed to me that I was in a dream, and, as it always happens in a dream, I felt myself riveted to the spot. Caderousse counted and again counted the gold and the notes, then handed them to his wife, who counted and counted them again in her turn.
As much as we want to look away, we're riveted to the spot.
Resident stuntman and commentator Jez said: "People will be riveted to the spot as the Extreme Stunt Team captivate with their limitless skills."