prey on somebody/something phrasal verb (see also prey)

1. if an animal or bird preys on another animal or bird, it hunts and eats it ⇒ predator:
Cats prey on birds and mice.

2. to try to deceive or harm weaker people:
religious cults that specialize in preying on young people

3. prey on sb’s mind to make someone worry continuously:
The accident has been preying on my mind all week.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

prey on
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 on him for years after the accident.

Usage notes: sometimes said about something that has an effect on people's emotions:
The ads prey on our fear of being alone.

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

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

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

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

prey on
1. • prey on/upon (someone)
to cheat/rob someone
Criminals often prey on people who are the weakest members of society.

2. • prey on/upon (something)
to catch something for food, to kill and eat something
Cats usually prey on mice and small birds for food.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

prey on something
• prey on/upon (something)
to catch something for food, to kill and eat something
Cats usually prey on mice and small birds for food.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

prey on
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.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

prey on someone
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 on him for years after the accident.

Usage notes: sometimes said about something that has an effect on people's emotions:
The ads prey on our fear of being alone.

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

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

prey on someone
• prey on/upon (someone)
to cheat/rob someone
Criminals often prey on people who are the weakest members of society.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲