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.

• the black sheep of the family
• the blind leading the blind
• the blue blazes
• the boot is on the other foot
• the bottom drops out of the market
• the bottom falls out of the market
• the bottom fell out
• the bottom fell out of
• the bottom fell out of something
• the bottom line
• the bottom of the barrel
• the bottom of the heap
• the bottom of the hour
• the bottom of the ladder
• the boys in blue
• the brains behind
• the brains behind something
• the brass ring
• the bright lights
• the bright side
• the bubble bursts
• the buck stops here.
• the buck stops with
• the buck stops with .
• the buck stops with someone