go foetal

the very act of adopting the foetal position when under extreme stress, very cold, or scared shitless.

In this position, the back is curved, the head is bowed, and the limbs are bent and drawn up to the torso.

Dianne saw the massive alpha gorilla descending upon her and decide to go foetal.

Once the gorilla saw that she'd gone foetal, he lost interest and decided to share his banana with someone else.