prey on
English
Verb
prey on (third-person singular simple present preys on, present participle preying on, simple past and past participle preyed on)
- (transitive) To eat (as prey).
- Owls prey on small mammals, such as mice.
- (transitive, figuratively) To exploit or victimize.
- 2013 January 22, Phil McNulty, “Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (3-4)”, in BBC:
- Bradford had preyed on Villa's inability to defend set pieces, corners in particular, in their first-leg win and took advantage of the weakness again as Hanson equalised to restore their two-goal aggregate lead.
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- (transitive, figuratively) To weigh heavily upon (a person's mind).
Translations
to exploit or victimize
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Anagrams
- Poyner, pyrone