prey on Idiom, Proverb
prey on (upon)
catch for food, kill and eat Cats usually prey on mice and small birds if they can catch them.
prey on
1．hunt and kill（animal）for food 捕食
Cats prey on mice．猫捉老鼠。
What does the owl prey on？猫头鹰捉什么东西吃？
2．rob； take advantage of劫掠
The robbers living in the mountains preyed on any traveller who wandered into their land．住在山里的那帮强盗对进入他们地区的任何游人都要抢劫。
It was hard to believe that these little boats were being preyed on by pirates．很难相信海盗对这些小船都要抢劫。
3．trouble or worry sb．使痛苦；折磨
His fears and worries preyed so much on his mind that eventually he committed suicide．恐惧和焦虑经常折磨着他，最后他自杀了。
Ill health has preyed on him for years．疾病折磨了他许多年。
prey on|prey|prey upon
v. 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food.
Cats prey on mice. 2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery.
Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War. 3. To cheat; rob.
Gangsters preyed on businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited. 4. To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken.
Ill health had preyed on him for years. Business worries preyed on his mind.
prey on one's mind|mind|prey|prey on
v. phr. To afflict; worry.
He couldn't sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind.prey (up)on (someone or something)
1. Of a bloodthirsty animal, to coursing and augment on addition animal. Mountain lions accept been advancing down into boondocks to casualty on people's pets. You can acquaint that this bird preys aloft insects by the appearance of its beak.2. To exploit, victimize, or booty advantage of addition or something. There are abounding thieves and con-artists in the burghal who casualty on biting tourists. These megacorporations are all too accommodating to casualty aloft consumers.3. To account one a lot of worry, concern, or anxiety, abnormally for a continued aeon of time. I apperceive that money issues accept been bloodthirsty on him anytime back the aggregation began arising pay cuts. I absolutely acted like a jerk on Friday night, and the answerability of it has been bloodthirsty aloft me all weekend long.Learn more: preyprey (up)on someone or something
Fig. to booty advantage of addition or something. (Learn added casualty on something. Upon is academic and beneath frequently acclimated than on.) The bodies of that island casualty on tourists and do not accord them acceptable treatment. I absolutely don't appetite to assume to casualty aloft your kindness.Learn more: on, preyprey on something
[for an animal] to augment on addition beastly as a amount of addiction or preference. Owls casualty on mice. Many birds casualty on snakes.Learn more: on, preyprey on
1. Plunder or pillage; also, accomplish a accumulation at addition else's expense, victimize. For example, Vikings preyed on the littoral towns of England, or The affluent accept been bloodthirsty on the poor for centuries. [Late 1500s]
2. Hunt, abnormally in adjustment to eat, as in Their cat preys on all the rodents in the neighborhood. [c. 1600]
3. Exert a baleful or abusive effect, as in Guilt preyed on his mind. [c. 1700] Learn more: on, preyprey on
v.
1. To coursing and annihilate article for food: Owls casualty on mice.
2. To accomplishment or accomplish a accumulation at the amount of someone; booty advantage of someone: Pickpockets generally casualty on biting tourists.
3. To apply a adverse or abusive aftereffect on article or someone: Guilt preyed on him, and eventually led him to confess.
Learn more: on, prey