Definition of the word prey on

Pronunciation of vocabulary prey on

prey onphrasal verb

săn mồi

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Origin of the word prey on

The origin of the phrase "prey on" can be traced back to the early 16th century, during the Middle English language period. At that time, the phrase was used figuratively to mean "to take advantage of" or "to exploit" in various contexts. The literal meaning of "prey on," however, has a more specific origin. "Prey" comes from the Old English word "pregan," which meant "cattle taken by wild animals." The word slowly evolved over time to also refer to any animal that is hunted by a predator. The verbal phrase "prey on" combines the literal meaning of "prey" with the figurative meaning of "to take advantage of" to imply that someone is acting like a predator, hunting and exploiting others for their own benefit. The use of this phrase in its current meaning became popular in the 19th century and has remained a part of the English language since then.

Example of vocabulary prey onnamespace

meaning

to hunt and kill another animal for food

săn bắt và giết một con vật khác để làm thức ăn

  • Hawks prey on rodents and small birds.

    Diều hâu săn bắt các loài gặm nhấm và chim nhỏ.

meaning

to harm somebody who is weaker than you, or make use of them in a dishonest way to get what you want

làm hại người yếu hơn mình hoặc lợi dụng họ một cách không trung thực để đạt được điều mình muốn

  • Scammers have been preying on inexperienced investors.

    Những kẻ lừa đảo thường nhắm vào các nhà đầu tư thiếu kinh nghiệm.

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary prey on

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