falling prey - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

prey on someone's mind

if something preys on someone's mind, they worry about it for a long time. I lost my temper with her the other day and it's been preying on my mind ever since.

See also: fall

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

? References in periodicals archive
Strasser has clearly done extensive research into the lives of homeless teens, and the pain of homelessness is made vividly real: not only being cold and hungry, but also scratching bedbug bites, not being able to afford medicine when you get sick, worrying about falling prey to stalkers, and being humiliated by people who consider homeless kids scum, like the sadistic security guard who forces Maybe and Rainbow to clean a public library bathroom naked after catching them washing up there. Strasser, Todd. Can't Get There from Here by Kulpa, Kathryn / Kliatt Avoid falling prey to unscrupulous contractors with a guide authored by a 30-year contracting veteran and the author of many other titles on the topic. Tips & Traps for Hiring a Contractor by The Bookwatch Without falling prey to any euphoric temptations, it's time to go back on offense. The best defense: going on offense by Chief Executive (U.S.) More results

References in periodicals archive

Strasser has clearly done extensive research into the lives of homeless teens, and the pain of homelessness is made vividly real: not only being cold and hungry, but also scratching bedbug bites, not being able to afford medicine when you get sick, worrying about falling prey to stalkers, and being humiliated by people who consider homeless kids scum, like the sadistic security guard who forces Maybe and Rainbow to clean a public library bathroom naked after catching them washing up there.

Strasser, Todd. Can't Get There from Here by Kulpa, Kathryn / Kliatt

Avoid falling prey to unscrupulous contractors with a guide authored by a 30-year contracting veteran and the author of many other titles on the topic.

Tips & Traps for Hiring a Contractor by The Bookwatch

Without falling prey to any euphoric temptations, it's time to go back on offense.

The best defense: going on offense by Chief Executive (U.S.)

More results

prey (redirected from falling prey)

prey
(redirected from falling prey)