prey+upon

  • 21prey 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

  • 22prey 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

  • 23prey — [[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

  • 24prey — 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

  • 25prey — 01. Gazelles are a favorite [prey] for cheetahs. 02. The spider stings its [prey], and then eats it slowly. 03. The rapist is said to [prey] on young women who are walking alone in the downtown area late at night. 04. Thousands of song birds die… …

    Grammatical examples in English

  • 26prey — preyer, n. /pray/, n. 1. an animal hunted or seized for food, esp. by a carnivorous animal. 2. a person or thing that is the victim of an enemy, a swindler, a disease, etc.; gull. 3. the action or habit of preying: a beast of prey. 4. Archaic.… …

    Universalium

  • 27prey 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

  • 28prey — [[t]preɪ[/t]] n. 1) ecl an animal hunted or seized for food, esp. by a carnivorous animal 2) a person or thing that is the victim of an enemy, disease, swindler, injurious agency, etc 3) the action or habit of preying: a beast of prey[/ex] 4)… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 29prey on — or[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. *… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 30prey on — or[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. *… …

    Dictionary of American idioms