| [/preɪ; pre/] n 用法:
1 [U] (a) animal, bird, etc hunted and killed by another for food 被捕食的动物; 捕获物:
a beast/bird of prey, ie one that kills and eats others, eg a tiger, an eagle 食肉猛兽[禽]（如虎、 鹰） *
The lion stalked its prey through the long grass. 那狮子在很深的草丛里潜步逼近猎物. *
Mice and other small creatures are the owl's prey. 老鼠以及其他小动物都是猫头鹰的捕食物.
(b) (fig 比喻) person who is exploited or harmed by another; victim 被剥削者; 受损害者; 牺性品:
She was easy prey for dishonest salesmen. 她很容易地让奸商敲了竹杠. 用法:
2 (idm 习语) be/fall prey to sth (a) (of an animal) be hunted and killed for food by another （指动物）被捕食, 成为其他动物的捕获物:
The zebra fell prey to the lion. 那斑马被狮子捕食.
(b) (of a person) be greatly troubled or tormented by sth （指人）为某事物所苦, 受到某事物的折磨:
She was prey to irrational fears. 她遭受著无端恐惧的折磨. prey 2
v 用法:
1 (idm 习语) prey on sb's `mind trouble sb greatly 烦扰某人:
Fear of the consequences preyed on her mind. 她担心其後果而惴惴不安. *
The thought that he was responsible for her death preyed on his mind. 他一想到自己对她的死负有责任就感到心如刀割. 用法:
2 (phr v) prey on sb/sth (a) hunt or catch (an animal, etc) as prey 捕食（动物等）:
hawks preying on small birds 捕食小鸟的老鹰.
(b) make sb one's victim; exploit or attack 使某人成为受害者; 剥削; 掠夺:
a confidence trickster preying on rich widows 一个玩弄花招使一些阔寡妇上当的骗子 *
The villagers were preyed on by bandits from the hills. 村民们受到山里强盗抢劫. |