Meaning of 棒立ちの様子


I got this sentence from [Boku no Hero S01E13
(06m25s)](https://animelon.com/video/5ac58616f1fe4e742d177a21)

> それにどうやら子供らは棒立ちの様子です.  
>  Besides, the children appear to be frozen in fear. (translation from the
> site)

I understand everything except the expresion in the title.

According to Rikaikun, those words mean: 棒立ち= standing upright; standing bolt
upright; rearing 様子 = state; state of affairs; situation; circumstances;

So how can 棒立ちの様子 mean "frozen in fear"?




棒立ち literally means "standing (like a) stick", and its implication is
"uselessly standing still without doing anything else". "In fear" is a
translator's addition, but I think it's not spot-on because the children don't
seem to be afraid in particular.




棒立ち literally means "standing (like a) stick", and its implication is
"uselessly standing still without doing anything else". "In fear" is a
translator's addition, but I think it's not spot-on because the children don't
seem to be afraid in particular.

