prey upon something

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• prey on something — prey on (something) to kill an animal in order to eat it. Spiders prey on small flies and other insects. Seals often prey upon the same fish people are trying to catch. Usage notes: said about animals that kill other animals for food …   New idioms dictionary

• prey upon — phrasal verb prey on or prey upon [transitive] Word forms prey on : present tense I/you/we/they prey on he/she/it preys on present participle preying on past tense preyed on past participle preyed on 1) prey on/upon someone to harm someone who is …   English dictionary

• prey on/upon — [phrasal verb] 1 prey on/upon (something) : to hunt and kill (something) for food The wolves prey on small animals. 2 prey on/upon (someone) : to hurt, cheat, or steal from (someone) c …   Useful english dictionary

• prey on (someone) — 1. to commit a crime against someone. Police are looking for street criminals who prey on tourists. Gangs that prey upon small business owners in the city s Chinatown may be spreading to the suburbs. 2. to have an effect on someone. Guilt preyed… …   New idioms dictionary

• prey on — (something) to kill an animal in order to eat it. Spiders prey on small flies and other insects. Seals often prey upon the same fish people are trying to catch. Usage notes: said about animals that kill other animals for food …   New idioms dictionary

• prey — [[t]pre͟ɪ[/t]] preys, preying, preyed 1) N UNCOUNT COLL: usu with poss A creature s prey are the creatures that it hunts and eats in order to live. → See also bird of prey Electric rays stun their prey with huge electrical discharges... These… …   English dictionary

• prey — prey1 [ preı ] noun uncount ** 1. ) an animal that is caught by another animal and eaten: Spiders usually catch their prey by building webs. => BIRD OF PREY 2. ) someone that a criminal or dishonest person attacks, cheats, or harms: VICTIM: a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• prey — ▪ I. prey prey 1 [preɪ] verb prey on/​upon somebody/​something phrasal verb [transitive] to take advantage of people who are weak or easily deceived: • fake charities that prey on small businesses for contributions   [m0] ▪ II. prey prey 2 …   Financial and business terms

• prey on — phrasal verb prey on or prey upon [transitive] Word forms prey on : present tense I/you/we/they prey on he/she/it preys on present participle preying on past tense preyed on past participle preyed on 1) prey on/upon someone to harm someone who is …   English dictionary

• prey — [prā] n. [ME preye < OFr preie < L praeda < base of prehendere, to seize: see PREHENSILE] 1. Archaic plunder; booty 2. an animal hunted or killed for food by another animal 3. a person or thing that falls victim to someone or something 4 …   English World dictionary