feed off

Related to feed off: feed on, cut some slack, tucked away

feed off (of) (someone or something)

1. Literally, to use someone or something as a source of sustenance. The kittens still need to feed off of their mother for a few more days.
2. By extension, to use something to one's advantage. These insurance companies are just trying to make money by feeding off our anxieties.
See also: feed, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

feed off (of) something

to eat something in particular customarily. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) This creature feeds off fallen fruit. Mosquitoes seem to want to feed off of me!
See also: feed, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

feed off

v.
To be nourished, sustained, or fueled by something: The microbes feed off the decaying seaweed. The politicians are feeding off of the public's fear.
See also: feed, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • feed off (of) (someone or something)
  • feed on
  • feed (up)on (someone or something)
  • have kittens
  • keep (one) going
  • keep going
  • keep somebody going
  • literally
  • lap up
  • beat the pants off
References in periodicals archive
We're in the the main feed off the Albion will be clubs a little than The effect of Tottenham's unsettling pursuit has been significant, with the 22-year-old a pale imitation of the forward that terrorised Premier League defences last term.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE; SOUTHAMPTON V ALBION ST MARY'S, TODAY, 3PM PULIS: WE HAVE TO PREY ON SMALLER CLUBS IN WINDOW
He has so much energy about him and I feed off that."
I'll feed off Justin - Warburton
JOHN MCENROE reckons hungry Andy Murray can feed off the energy of the crazy New York crowd at the US Open.
McEnroe: Hungry Andy can rock Djok
NORTHERN IRELAND boss Nigel Worthington hopes his side feed off the success of Ryder Cup heroes Ror y McI l roy a nd Gr aeme McDowell when Italy turn up in Belfast tonight.
Rub of greens for Nigel; Northern Ireland v Italy
"I'm going to feed off how I hit the ball last week.
Golf: Desire still as strong as before with Daly
The episode featured the Doctor and his sidekick Rose fighting an attempt by an alien to feed off the minds of people watching on TV the Queen's 1953 coronation.
Dr Who hit by slump
"They just opened last week and the owner of the store was very, very pleased with his business so far and is looking for the Postal Service store to open so they can feed off that," he said.
US Postal Service stamping its mark downtown
The males don't appear to be parasitic and probably feed off yolk left over from early development.
Gutless wonder: new symbiosis lets worm feed on whale bones
The migrating birds that feed off the crabs have been affected as well.
Bait and Switch
At best, with the cubic structure built by Beat Zoderer using squares of wood coated in industrial white, or with Albert Weiss's enormous polystyrene labyrinth (white, naturally), the variations introduced (formally-but only formally!--too close to Ryman's), seemed to feed off their reading of the older artist's work without adding anything much themselves.
ROBERT RYMAN
They're able to feed off each other if there's a youth who receives a technical base loan.
Support for young entrepreneurs
SAM WARBURTON says he will feed off just trying to keep up with back row partner Justin Tipuric at Twickenham tomorrow.
Sam not bothered who bookies make favourites
And that's what they feed off. They don't want people to feel comfortable in Britain of 2014 and Britain of 2015.
Crabb says Ukip 'press buttons of fear' in the electorate
Tandy hopes his players will feed off the atmosphere generated by a capacity 24,000 crowd at the east Midlands rugby citadel.
Ospreys are ready for thrills of Welford Road clash
Northern Ireland v Italy NORTHERN IRELAND boss Nigel Worthington hopes his side feed off the success of Ryder Cup heroes Ror y Mc I l roy a nd Gr aeme McDowell when Italy turn up in Belfast tonight.
Rub of greens for Nigel