Direct Answer
“Prey upon sb” means to harm or exploit someone, often by taking advantage of their weaknesses or fears.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Prey upon somebody
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2–C1
- Short meaning: To harm or take advantage of someone
Meaning in Detail
The phrasal verb prey upon sb means to harm or exploit a person, often emotionally or physically. This phrase is used when someone takes advantage of another’s vulnerability, fears, or weaknesses. For example, a criminal might prey upon elderly people by tricking them. The phrase is usually negative and describes unfair or harmful behavior.
Understanding the prey upon sb meaning helps you recognize when someone is being taken advantage of or hurt by others.
Structure (Grammar Rules)
- Prey upon sb is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot put the object between “prey” and “upon.”
- Correct pattern: prey upon + somebody
- Incorrect: prey somebody upon or prey upon without an object
Examples
Here are some natural sentences showing prey upon sb in a sentence:
- Scammers often prey upon the elderly by pretending to be bank officials.
- Fear and uncertainty can prey upon people during difficult times.
- Some criminals prey upon vulnerable children in the community.
- His guilt continued to prey upon him long after the event.
- Negative thoughts can prey upon your mind if you don’t stay positive.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: He preys the weak upon.
- Correct: He preys upon the weak.
- Incorrect: They preyed upon without a target.
- Correct: They preyed upon innocent victims.
Differences / Synonyms
- Prey upon sb vs. take advantage of sb: Both mean exploiting someone, but “prey upon” often implies harm or danger.
- Prey upon sb vs. feed on sb: “Feed on” is more literal or biological, used for animals or emotions, while “prey upon” is broader and more figurative.
- Prey upon sb vs. target sb: “Target” means to choose someone, but “prey upon” emphasizes the harmful intent.
Common Collocations
- Prey upon the weak
- Prey upon the vulnerable
- Prey upon fears
- Prey upon innocence
- Prey upon someone’s mind
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of prey upon sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did you hear about the new scam targeting seniors?
Ben: Yes, it’s terrible how some people prey upon the elderly like that.
Anna: I hope more awareness can stop them from preying upon vulnerable people.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrasal verb:
Criminals often ________ upon tourists by selling fake tickets.
- a) prey
- b) prey upon
- c) prey on
Answer: b) prey upon
FAQ
What does “prey upon sb” mean?
It means to harm or exploit someone, usually by taking advantage of their weaknesses.
Is “prey upon sb” positive or negative?
It is always negative and describes harmful behavior.
Can “prey upon” be separated?
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb; the object must come after “upon.”
Can animals “prey upon” humans?
Yes, it can be used literally for animals hunting humans or figuratively for emotional harm.
What are common objects with “prey upon”?
People, the weak, the vulnerable, fears, and innocence are common objects.
