Nov 23, 2018
A Phrasal Verb a Day #149 - TO PREY ON
Definitions & Examples
1. when animals hunt and eat other animals
Owls prey on mice, rabbits and other animals at night
2. To harm someone who is weaker than you, or to 'take advantage of' people who are weak or vulnerable
There are gangs of people who prey on tourists who come to Paris. They use scams to trick tourists into buying souvenirs at expensive prices.
Some creepy men online prey on innocent girls by posing as children.
He was accused of preying on local elderly people. He posed as a care worker, entered the old people's houses, and then stole money and other possessions. The old people had no idea what was happening.